Blackmailed

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Blackmailed ISBN 9781419917400 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Blackmailed Copyright © 2008 Tawny Taylor Edited by Sue-Ellen Gower. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication September 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

BLACKMAILED

Tawny Taylor

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Asscher: Koninklijke Asscher Diamant Maatschappij B.V. Egg Beaters: Jaguar: Jaguar Cars Ltd. Lincoln: Ford Motor Company Manolo Blahnik: Blahnik, Manolo Perrier: The Perrier Group of America Inc. ‘Vette: General Motors Corporation Volkswagen: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Blackmailed

Chapter One “Let me guess, after last weekend’s date with a bug-eyed, tentacled alien, you can’t stop fantasizing about octopi?” Elena Caine snapped to, realizing she’d been blindly staring down at a pan of…was that squid? Eww! “Huh?” She hurried down the Asian buffet, past steaming pans of fried rice, sweet and sour shrimp, and moo goo gai pan, following her best friend Ashley to a table in the corner of the restaurant. “No. Trust me, tentacles do nothing for me,” she joked. “But horns? Yum.” The contents of her jacket pocket bounced against her hip as she dodged a toddler in a highchair, reminding her why today had been the worst day of her life. She’d always thought politicians, judges, lawyers—those kinds of people—were the only ones who got blackmailed. People who were bad. Or had money. Or power. But your run-of-the-mill office manager? With no money, no power? Not hardly. So why was she being blackmailed? “Earth to Elena. Are you with me? What is with you?” Ashley waved a hand in front of Elena’s nose. “I haven’t seen you this dazed since that party in college. Are you high?” At Elena’s fervent shake of the head, Ashley asked, “Sick? Or did you OD on allergy medicine again?” “Well…” Elena wanted to tell Ashley about the letter in her pocket. It was so tempting, but the jerk who’d sent it had warned her not to tell anyone. Not a single person. If she did, he claimed she’d be the immediate recipient of a pink slip. And a free ride downtown…in a police cruiser. Considering who she was dealing with, she believed him.

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The way she saw it, she had no choice but to play along with his twisted scheme. The jerk had done his homework, known she couldn’t afford to lose her job or risk going to jail. She certainly couldn’t go to the authorities, not when the bit of information he held over her head was so…sensitive. He had her by the so-called balls. Yep, worst day of her life. “Wooo hoooo? Gone on another trip, or are you still here with me?” Ashley, queen of exaggeration, waved her fork in the air. Elena knocked Ashley’s hand away. “I’m here. Just really tired. It’s been a hellacious week at work, and I’m ready to go home and go to bed.” She lifted her diet cola and took several swallows, trying to avoid eye contact with her best friend. She knew that look. Ashley was going to pry. Ashley shoved her plate away and dropped her wadded-up napkin on the table. Her gaze was razor-sharp and probing. “I’m worried about you.” “Don’t be.” Elena faked a smile. “You’re pale. I don’t think you’re just tired. What else is going on? Why won’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me? Is it your boss again? PMS? Your little brother?” The questions came fast and furious, like balls being spat from a pitching machine gone haywire, and Elena fielded them like a world-class ballplayer. Quickly and efficiently, expending as little effort as possible. One-word answers. That was all Ashley got. Finally, Ashley gave up and went back to chattering about the new guy in the cubicle two down from hers. The one with the great butt and new ‘Vette. Pretending to listen, Elena picked at her dinner—what had made her decide the Chou Dofu was a good idea today? A little while later, Ashley heaved the sigh of the weary friend who felt neglected and did the little shooing motion she used on stray dogs and pigeons. “Go home and sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

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“Okay. ‘Night.” Elena shrugged into her coat, dug her keys out of the bottom of her purse, gave her friend a quick hug and hurried out to her car, one hand in her pocket, her fingers curled around that damn letter. It was dark outside already—she hated fall! The restaurant’s parking lot was murky and slushy, thanks to an early snow. It wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet and already they’d had their first heavy snowfall of the year. Winter was bearing down on Michigan like a frigid white demon. She slipped and slid to the back where she’d parked. Unlocked her door, flung her purse onto the passenger seat, climbed in and cranked the engine. It started with a sputter and cough, threatening to stall. Like its owner, her ancient Volkswagen hated the cold. Elena hit the gas and flipped on the heater, shivering and cursing her temperamental vehicle for making her freeze her butt off while it warmed up. As she pulled the letter from her pocket to reread it for the bazillionth time, the passenger-side door swung open. Assuming it was Ashley coming to keep her company—aka harass her some more—while she waited, she stuffed the letter back into her pocket and pulled her purse off the seat, depositing it on the floor. But the body that slid into the seat was not Ashley’s. It wasn’t even female. Oh God. “Kyler? Hi.” Could it be a coincidence that the extremely attractive man on receiving end of her blackmailing jerk’s devious plan had just plopped into her front seat? In a dark restaurant parking lot? Probably not but she could always hope. Then again, they’d shared quite a few looks in the office the past few weeks. Whether she was hallucinating or hopeful, she sensed there was some chemistry between them. Maybe he had been in the restaurant and she hadn’t noticed, and he’d been dying to talk to her about…something…and he’d seen his opportunity… Okay, so she was really reaching. The expression on his face wasn’t exactly screaming Hey, baby. Nope. More like You bitch. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

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His smile wasn’t even close to genuine. “I thought this would be the perfect place for a chat.” She was chilled before but now she felt like a human icicle. Maybe this was his way of asking a girl out? If that was the case, his brand of seduction bordered on creepy. “Well, I’m really flattered you wanted some private time, went to all the trouble of tracking me down in a dark parking lot.” Yikes! “But I’m not feeling very well and now’s not a good time, so couldn’t we continue—” He planted one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the headrest of her seat, basically caging her in with his arms. “Now. Is. The. Per-fect. Time.” He enunciated every single syllable. “Okayyyy. So what do you want to talk about?” she asked, shooting for a casual tone as she ground the back of her head into the headrest. Strangely, as she sat there, concentrating on regularly inhaling and exhaling, she couldn’t help but be aware of how good-looking Kyler Pierce, VP of Sales and Marketing, was. There was good reason why every single female in the company, married or not, lusted after the man, at least a little. But she would never have expected him to make her so incredibly hot when he was more or less holding her hostage. A part of her thrilled at the thorough once-over he was giving her right now. He had the most amazing eyes and smelled sooooo good. And his mouth. Perfect lips. He inched a smidge closer. “I know what Matt’s up to.” Her stomach dropped to her toes. Crap! Now what? Beg forgiveness and hope he could somehow dig her out of this mess? But that would require her telling him everything. Oh God! She couldn’t! “I don’t know what you mean. Up to? Isn’t Matt always ‘up to’ something? I wouldn’t think that would be worthy of wandering around in a dark parking lot—”

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“It most definitely is.” He inched back a bit. Not enough in her opinion, but a little. She was grateful. “What’s he got on you?” “Me? Nothing.” Her face flamed, totally giving away her guilt. “Then why are you going along with it?” “With what?” She was an absolutely terrible actress. The worst. But sadly, she couldn’t give up the act. Anger flared in his deep blue eyes, the shade of a night sky. He slammed his fists against her seat, one next to her shoulder, the other down closer to her waist, and she froze. The breath she’d just managed to suck in blasted up her throat. She’d known Matt was playing uber-dirty, that the eventual outcome would mean the worst for Kyler—the loss of his job. A position that probably paid a lot. But did that give the man any right to bodily threaten her? No. But she still had no idea what she could—or would—do about it. She wanted to cry. She was trapped between these two power-hungry, manipulative jerks out to ruin each other. And it was so unfair! She was just the office manager. The girl who filed their paperwork and answered their phones. She shouldn’t be ducking punches and evading blackmail threats. If only she had a way out of this! She felt her eyes filling with hot tears. Her nose burned. She blinked, focusing her gaze on the radio’s display, the glowing numbers blurring as the tears built up. She dragged a hand across her eyes and waited for him to say something. She wasn’t going to speak. She couldn’t. “Fuck,” he grumbled. She’d agree with that sentiment. Kyler inched back a little more. “Don’t cry. I can’t stand it when women cry.” “Believe me, I’m trying not to.” Still staring at the radio, she sniffled, wiping some of the annoying wetness from her eyes again.

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“That fucking bastard.” She’d agree with that sentiment too. He turned, slumping back against the passenger seat, and she inhaled her first full breath in ages. What now? The silent but vulnerable thing seemed to be working for her. Kind of. No sense switching gears now. “His plan won’t work without you.” Kyler seemed to be thinking aloud. Thus, she didn’t comment, just let him continue following his train of thought. “So, if you aren’t there to help him, he’s shit outta luck.” Sounded like a good plan to her, but what exactly did that mean? If she didn’t show up to work on Monday morning, as planned, and plant the evidence he was supposed to deliver to her this weekend, Matt Becker was taking the proof he had about her to Human Resources…and the entire board of directors… And the police.

***** Kyler wanted to punch something—no, someone. That fucking shithead, Matt Becker, that’s who he wanted to beat. Using the office girl. The adorable, sweet and very proficient office girl. Manipulating her. Not only was it illegal but it was low. Showed exactly what kind of guy Becker was. Competitive, Kyler could respect. Coldhearted criminal, he could not. Sad thing was, if a friend hadn’t tipped him off, Becker’s scheme would’ve worked, and he would’ve found himself without a job within a couple of weeks, regardless of the ten years of hard work he’d put in with this company. A flawless record and sixty percent growth in sales since he became VP wouldn’t save him. He’d lived and breathed that fucking place to get it to where it was. Becker was not taking that away from him. 10

Blackmailed

He sensed Elena was being forced to go along with Becker’s plan, but she wasn’t talking. Why? If he were in her shoes, he’d have spilled. VP of Marketing and Sales trumped Becker’s Regional Sales Manager. She should be grateful and relieved that he’d found out, telling him everything and letting him clean up whatever mess Becker had already started making. Instead she was sitting there crying. Not that she was blubbering and bawling. No, she was sniffling daintily, little chin quivering, and swiping at tears seeping from a set of pretty brown eyes that were wide and innocent and wary. Crying women made him melt, dammit. Especially this one. Becker had something bad on this girl. Bad enough that she didn’t trust him enough to say what it was. What the hell could it be? The little office manager was so quiet, with a demure demeanor, a soft voice that made him warm, and a sweet face that seemed so guileless. Lately, he couldn’t seem to stop looking at her. Then again, knowing Becker, maybe whatever he was holding over her head was completely made up. Just like the shit Becker was trying to pull on him—planting bogus evidence that he was stealing money from the company. “Do you have any vacation time coming?” he finally asked, deciding on a plan of attack. First thing he had to do was remove Becker’s primary tool against him—Elena. Then he’d worry about whatever problem Becker had created for the office manager. “Yes, a few days, but I can’t take time off now.” “Because Becker’s blackmailed you into helping him? And if you don’t show up on Monday, the shit’s going to hit the fan?” Silence. Then a soft “Yes”. “Want to tell me what he’s using to blackmail you?” “No.” “Okay.” He sighed. Dammit, he wished she’d trust him, but he could understand why she didn’t. Standing in her shoes, he and Becker probably looked like a couple of

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battling, territorial bullies, one no better than the other. “I can’t let you go to work on Monday.” Her gaze dropped to her hands. He watched her toy with the button on her coat. “If I don’t show, I’ll be out a job by Monday afternoon.” Shit. “I can get the vacation time pushed through Human Resources,” he offered. “You can tell them it’s a family emergency.” She shook her head. “That’s not going to help.” “Or you could call in sick.” “Again, not going to help.” Desperate to get something out of the pretty office manager, a hint, anything, he leaned forward, took her hand in his. She still refused to look at him. Dammit, why was she hiding? What was she hiding? “What is Becker holding over your head? Please, I don’t just want to think about myself here. I want to help you too.” “I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone,” she said to her clasped hands. He wanted to scream. “Then how can I help you?” Silence. The tense quiet dragged on for several agonizing seconds. “I guess you can’t.” He sighed. “All right.” Fuck it! He couldn’t worry about something he didn’t know about. “I didn’t want to do this, but…” He unfastened her seat belt, grabbed the vehicle’s key and gave it a twist to cut off the engine. Elena’s reaction was delayed by several seconds. She’d clearly been caught off guard. But once she realized what he was about to do, she fought like a little banshee, clawing at the hand holding her keys, swinging at him with the other, cussing him, throwing her body across his lap as she made a desperate lunge for the keys. He opened the passenger door, practically rolling out of the car, her keys still in his hand. He half expected her to tumble out of the car and run away, but she didn’t.

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Instead, as he’d hoped, she scrambled from the vehicle, running around the front to meet him on his side. Which happened to be adjacent to his own car. He’d planned this well. He stuffed her keys into his pocket, and opened his car’s driver-side door. “You’re just going to have to trust me, I guess.” She crossed her arms over her chest and thrust her chin into the air. “Just because you have my keys doesn’t mean I can’t show up to work on Monday,” she said, her little face red, her lush mouth drawn into a tight line, hair—which was always neatly pinned into an updo—disheveled. Sexy, glossy waves tumbled from the loosened bun, falling over her shoulders and down her back. The wind picked up a tendril and sent it sailing across her face. He realized, painfully, that he was getting hard with her looking like that. And suddenly he had the craziest idea. He’d blackmail the sexy and mysterious little office manager too.

Elena was pissed. And scared. And ready to start crying all over again. Oh hell. The tears were flowing and she wasn’t going to even try to stop them anymore. Maybe she could guilt-trip Kyler into giving back her keys. It was freezing outside, but she didn’t feel the cold. She was so freaking furious her insides were an inferno. How dare Kyler take her keys and leave her here to freeze! What did he think he was going to accomplish by doing that? Keep her home Monday? Not a chance. There were other means of transportation to be found. She could call Ashley and ask her to come back and pick her up tonight. And then…she’d be forced to come up with some feasible explanation for why she didn’t have her keys and why it had taken her so long to realize they were missing.

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And then there was the issue of getting over to see her brother tomorrow. He was in the hospital again. She had several errands to run. She couldn’t ask Ashley to ferry her around all weekend. This was so unfair! The battle between these two assholes shouldn’t involve her. She shouldn’t be facing these kinds of complications. Jerks! Bastards! Conniving, lowlife scumbags! She stomped her foot then, giving Kyler’s shiny black Jaguar a glare, decided it was in need of a little facelift. Of course, she’d give Kyler a warning first. Let him decide. Plastering what she hoped was an evil you’re-so-going-to-be-sorry-for-this grin on her face, she knocked on his window. “Give me my keys, or I’ll make your car look like it just went through a hailstorm…with hailstones the size and shape of my foot.” He didn’t look threatened. The window silently slid down. “Just get in the car. We need to talk.” His breath made little white puffs in the air. “Hell no! Why would I go anywhere with you?” “Because it’s better than freezing.” “Believe me,” she growled through gritted teeth, “I’m not cold.” “You will be.” Looking way too chipper, and much too handsome, he patted the seat. “Get in. Let’s talk. I promise we can sort this whole thing out.” Sort it out. Hah. He had no idea. There was no sorting anything out. At least not for her. He, on the other hand, could avoid trouble pretty easily, by taking whatever proof he had about Matt Becker’s plans to the Powers That Be. She supposed, if he wanted to be a jerk, he could easily implicate her in the scheme too. That was, if he had no proof that she was being blackmailed into helping the regional sales manager.

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Shit, what was she worried about? She’d be gone no matter what. And even if she was somehow able to avoid going to jail, she wouldn’t be able to afford the atrocious premiums to keep her health insurance, and bills for her brother’s treatment would mount to the freaking sky in no time. Because of her secret, she couldn’t file bankruptcy. Welcome to the world of around-the-clock bill collectors, judgments, garnisheed wages. She so didn’t want to go there again. Desperately. Which was why she was in this position in the first place. But it seemed there was no avoiding it now. The chill in the air had finally seeped inside her body, not so much cooling the fury churning within her, but adding another layer of sensation on top. She suddenly felt weary, tired of being the strong one, the one with all the answers. For once, she wanted someone else to take over, tell her everything was going to be okay, like she did for her brother. To shoulder all the pressures. It was hell being a surrogate mother to a teenager with a debilitating, long-term illness that made health insurance more vital than a paycheck. But that was what she was, and nothing was going to change it. “Get in. I’m not the selfish bastard Becker is, but I can’t let you do this to me.” She knew that was probably true, that Kyler wasn’t as selfish as Becker. But that didn’t mean she was ready to hop in his car and go for a joyride. He would only start asking questions again. And that would lead to nothing good. She sighed and tried to gather her windblown hair out of her face. She smoothed the unruly locks back, tucked them behind her ears. “Look, if you truly wanted to help me, you’d give me back my keys and find another way to beat Becker at his game. Why not just take whatever proof you have against him to the higher-ups? Wouldn’t that do it?” He shook his head. “It would, if I had proof. All I had was a tip. Nothing substantial enough to counter the evidence you’re going to plant.” 15

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Shoot! Then he had been fishing earlier. For details. Proof. How much did he know? “If you know about the evidence I’m supposed to plant, couldn’t you just play interference? Remove it before anyone else finds it?” He shook his head. “Not unless you tell me exactly where that evidence will be.” She considered telling him. Very seriously, for about ten seconds, then dismissed the idea. If she put the papers where she was supposed to, and then Matt saw Kyler immediately take them out, he’d know she’d spilled. “I can’t. Matt’ll figure it out.” He sighed again. That had to be at least five times now. “Whatever he’s got on you, it must be bad.” She didn’t respond. Even in the courts, a girl was permitted to plead the Fifth. “But you see,” he said, his expression turning wicked, “I’ve got something on you too. I could turn the tables on you, blackmail you too.” “You’re bluffing. If you had anything on me, you’d have me fired so I couldn’t plant the evidence, and therefore protect your precious little job.” She held her breath, hoping that was the case. It made sense. He tipped his head, narrowed his eyes. “So you’re willing to take the chance I’m lying? Quite the gambler, aren’t you?” “Hey, you’re the one trying to force my hand.” “No, you are, by holding your cards so close to your chest.” Great, now they had resorted to talking in poker clichés. She wasn’t even a card player. She sighed. “I just want to go home. And Monday, I want to go to work, and keep my job.” More silence. Dammit, could they just come to some kind of agreement here? She was tired, cold, worn out, emotionally drained. “How about a wager?” he offered. “I win, you do what I say. You win, I’ll find another way to stop Becker, or face the music if you two succeed.”

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“What kind of wager? I don’t know any card games.” He thought for a moment. “Flip of a coin?” At least that would be quick. She could be on her way home in less than a minute. Or she could be in even more trouble, depending upon the way the coin landed. “Just one flip?” “How about two out of three?” Just freaking great. Practically her whole life was about to be determined by the toss of a quarter. But she supposed the odds were better to go this route than just totally give up. He patted the seat. “Better come in here where you can watch me, make sure I don’t cheat.” Conniver. “You’d better not cheat. Because that’s just too low for words.” “I promise, I always play fair.” She didn’t believe that bit of bullshit, but her hands were numb. She slipped and slid around the front end of his car, sat in the passenger seat. Ohhhh, the vehicle was toasty-warm inside, and smelled good, like the man who owned it. But she promptly reminded herself that this was not a date, but a serious bet they had going on. And losing would mean major problems for her and her brother. “Ready?” She nodded. He held a quarter between his forefinger and thumb, twisting his wrist to show her both sides. “See? No trick coin.” “Okay. I got it. Just flip.” He placed the coin on his thumb. “Call it in the air. The ceiling’s low, so I can’t flip it high. You’ll have to be quick.”

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Up went the coin and she blurted, “Heads!” as it landed on his palm. He flipped it over, onto the back of his hand. He lifted the hand covering it. Her heart stopped. “Heads it is. One point for you.” She inhaled. Exhaled. Whew! It was a small victory, but it put her one step closer to walking away from him, guilt free. “Ready?” he asked. She nodded again, deciding she’d stick with the same side for all three tosses. “Heads!” she called immediately after he flipped it the second time. This time, when he uncovered the back of his hand, however, the coin was lying tails-up. Shit. Now they were tied one to one. Immediately she started questioning her strategy. Go with heads again? Or change to tails? “Last one. Call it in the air.” He flipped. She called, “Tails!” He caught the coin and flipped it onto the back of his hand. “Heads. I win.” Shit! No! “I meant to say heads. Can I have a do-over?” “Nope. We had a deal. You lost. Consider yourself double-blackmailed.” He dropped the quarter into her hand, put the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking spot. “Let’s go home. I’m tired. And I have a feeling the next few days are going to be hell.” She dropped the coin into her purse, mumbling, “You can say that again.”

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Chapter Two What an interesting turn of events. Tonight, when he’d gone out in search of Elena—the supposed accomplice in a shady plan to get him fired—Kyler had expected to have a friendly chat with the scheming little office manager, gather whatever evidence he could and then head to work on Monday armed to have her and Becker fired on the spot. None of that had happened. They’d talked, but he’d quickly realized she was as much—if not more so—a victim as he. He’d also discovered a couple of other things. First, for some reason this woman stirred a very strong protective instinct in him. And second, which he assumed was related to the first, he wasn’t just a little attracted to her, like he had previously thought. He was wildly attracted to her. He wasn’t sure what it was about her. The huge, sad eyes, which made her look sweet and vulnerable. Or maybe that lovely heart-shaped face with that luscious mouth. Or perhaps it was her body—soft and feminine and delicate. He’d been sporting a painful erection since he’d trapped her between his arms in her car, and their faces had been inches apart. Even now he was in pain. His cock was rock-hard, his balls tight. The craziest images were zinging through his head—Elena lying over his lap, her rear end red from the spanking he was giving her. Shit, he needed a cold shower. He shifted in the seat. Just a few more blocks and they’d be home. He’d set her up in the guestroom, let her get some sleep. And then tomorrow they’d sit down for a serious talk about the whole blackmail thing. And then…who knew?

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There’d been more than one reason why he’d decided to bring the sexy little office manager back to his place for the weekend. The most obvious—this whole blackmail bullshit. But also because of the chemistry. There was no doubt anymore. He hadn’t imagined the signs of arousal he’d read in Elena tonight. The way she’d looked at him. She was as attracted to him as he was to her. Maybe this game of blackmail was exactly what she’d been looking for.

***** His house was freaking gorgeous. Okay, so she supposed it shouldn’t have surprised her. Not when the vice president drove a car that probably cost double her yearly salary—and she wasn’t paid peanuts— and dressed like a bazillion dollars every day. Head to toe, he was always dressed to kill. Every scuff buffed out of his shoes. Fingernails neat and trimmed. Hair immaculate, but not overdone to the point where he looked fake or gay. Clothes fitting him so perfectly, every piece looked like it had been made just for him. He was simply one well-dressed, well-groomed, well-built man. And his house belonged in the pages of some decorating magazine. They stepped into a massive foyer with soaring ceilings. Much like the exterior, the house’s interior was contemporary but not cold. Sleek and cool with hard lines and gleaming surfaces. Black tile floor with not a single piece of lint or a smudge to mar its mirrorlike surface. A staircase with brushed silver-toned hand railings, winding up to a second story. Beyond the foyer was a great room that opened to a state-of-the art kitchen, and living area boasting comfortable-looking but stylish furniture. “Can I get you anything to eat or drink before we head up to bed?”

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A little ripple of…something pleasant…worked through her body. It was the we associated with the word bed that did it to her. Her face was suddenly really warm. So were a few other parts of her anatomy. “Maybe something to drink? Something cold?” “Sure.” He shrugged out of his jacket then helped her out of hers. Set them both on a nearby chair then reached for a glass from an open shelf. She stared at his butt, partly because it was there and partly because it looked so good in those black pants. This guy did not have the typical guy flat ass. His was rounded just enough to be sexy. She guessed the source of the shape was one hundred percent muscle. She’d spent enough time in a gym to know. How she lusted after a guy with great glutes. And shoulders. Of course, Kyler’s were wide and thickly muscled. She could see the way the muscles bulged as he moved, even through the crisp white button-down shirt he wore. He dispensed some ice into the glass then asked, “Any preference? Soft drink? Iced tea? Bottled water?” Just for kicks, she blurted, “Perrier?” Not because she actually knew what was so special about that particular brand, but just because she hoped it made her sound a little refined. She was most definitely feeling a smidge outclassed. Not a feeling she was unaccustomed to, but for some reason, it was unusually uncomfortable tonight. She didn’t want to think why that might be. “No problem.” He opened the fridge, twisted open one of those recognizable bottles and poured some into the glass. “There you are.” “Thanks.” Their fingers brushed as she took the glass from him, and a little buzz of energy licked up her arm. Their gazes met, and for a moment she wanted to forget all about the whole blackmailing thing and just pretend they were on a date, doing guyand-girl kinds of things.

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Tearing her gaze from his, she turned to admire the living room as she took her first sip of the French bottled water she’d never bothered to buy before. It was good, but not great. Did the job okay, which was really all she cared about at the moment. Her mouth was so dry she could barely speak. She swallowed several more mouthfuls. Yeah, not bad at all, but hardly worth the ridiculous price. “How about a snack?” At the refrigerator again, he pulled some small plastic containers out and set them on the shiny black granite counter. “I’m still pretty full from dinner.” That was a lie. She’d barely touched her food. But she was too jittery to eat right now. Not to mention, she’d long ago made a rule against eating anything that could not be easily identified. Orange pasty stuff. White creamy stuff. That was most definitely not identifiable. So, instead of digging in, she leaned back against the counter, sipped her water and watched Kyler work. “Would you like to sit?” He motioned to the row of barstools lining the raised side of the kitchen island. “Sure.” She walked around the front of the island and sat, watched him collect a plate, knife, box of crackers. The guy seemed to get better-looking with every second that ticked by. How was that possible? He sat beside her, and she was instantly aware of how close he was. The air between their bodies felt warmer than the rest of the room. And sort of zip-zappy, like little currents of electricity were jolting between their bodies. He pulled out a cracker, smeared some of the orange stuff on it and, smiling over his shoulder, offered it to her. “Are you sure you aren’t hungry?” She was, but her insides were kind of jumbled up, and she was a smidge afraid of putting something foreign—and potentially dangerous—into her stomach. There was no way she was going to tell him that though. So she just said, “I’m sure. Thanks anyway.” 22

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“Okay.” He popped the cracker into his mouth, chewed. Washed it down with a sip of wine. An uncomfortable silence hung between them, and despite the sensual awareness warming her skin and making her all tingly, a question hung from the tip of her tongue. A question that would totally put a dampener on the date-like vibe of the moment. How would she ever sleep? In a strange house, with the stress of a job loss—and maybe jail, gah!—looming over her head. She needed a little of that wine. Not a lot. She wasn’t a big drinker, had the occasional glass on special nights, holidays, that kind of thing. She hadn’t gotten loaded since college. Tempting as it was to do so tonight, there was no way she’d do something so idiotic. “Mind if I upgrade to something a little harder?” She lifted her glass, motioning toward his. “Sure. What can I get you?” He popped another loaded cracker into his mouth. A tiny smudge of orange clung to his upper lip, and she couldn’t help staring at it. “How about some of whatever you’re drinking?” “Coming right up.” He got her a fresh wineglass, grabbed the bottle sitting on the counter next to the wine cooler and sat back in his seat. He poured her a full glass then handed it to her. “There you go.” “Thanks.” Her gaze still locked on that bit of orange on his lip, she took a cautious taste. Ooh, yum. She took several more swallows then pointed at her own mouth. “Um, you’ve got something there.” “Where?” He wiped the wrong spot, like people always did. And she was forced to lean closer and actually touch his face with her finger. “There.” A big jolt of electricity charged up her arm, almost feeling as though she’d just touched a live wire. She froze, unable to pull her hand away, unable to move at all. He leaned closer, and she realized he was looking at her mouth.

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Oh God, was he going to kiss her? “I…uh…have always admired your shoes,” she jabbered, so nervous she didn’t even know what she was saying. Her brain was stuck, like an old-fashioned record, playing the same thought over and over. He’s going to kiss me. He’s going to kiss me. Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! Then their mouths were touching. Just barely. And she quit breathing, which was not good. She closed her eyes, frozen in place, waiting, dizzy. He cupped her face in his hands and gently brushed his mouth back and forth over hers. It was the softest, most sensual kiss she’d ever experienced. “Oh God,” she heard herself say. He answered with a rumbling, sexy chuckle that made her warmer yet. Her heart started banging hard against her breastbone and she took a little frantic gasp of air. She felt as if she was melting inside, her bones softening, the rest of her turning into slick heat. A tingly warmth gathered between her legs. “You want this, don’t you?” he asked against her mouth. She did, most definitely. In fact, crazy or not, she wanted a whole lot more than a teasing, sultry kiss. But all she could say was, “Ahhh…” She slid her hands up the smooth material of his shirt until she felt the stiff collar. By the time she had her fingers wrapped around his silk tie, she was more than a little desperate for the kiss to deepen. Enough to take matters into her own hands. She climbed to her feet, so that she could wedge her body between his legs, and pressed against him. Her nipples were sensitive, hard little peaks, roughened against the lace cup of her bra. And still, he kept that kiss soft and fleeting, the worst kind of torture. She looped her arms around his neck, angling her mouth. “You’re so mean,” she murmured. “And you like that too, don’t you?”

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She did. In a way. And in another, she most definitely did not. She pulled on his neck, trying to force him to possess her more fully with his mouth. But instead, he skimmed his lips over her cheekbone then kissed a tingly path from her ear to her collarbone. He gently pulled her arms from his neck, pushing them down then forcing them behind her back. He used one fist as a handcuff, holding them together. With the other one, he supported the back of her neck. Oh…she was going to need a whole lot more support than that, very soon. Goose bumps tickled the skin of her neck and back, her chest and stomach. Her bones were melting, her muscles twitching. She could hardly believe this was happening. Kyler Pierce, the guy all the women in the office lusted after but no one got—including Nikki the office babe—was nibbling her neck right now. Hers! So much for the theory that he was gay. For the first time today, she was actually kind of glad she’d been blackmailed by Matt Becker. Look where it had led her. Into the arms of an absolute hunk. Gorgeous. Successful. Sexy.

“Time for bed,” Kyler mumbled, tearing his lips from Elena’s neck. Damn, but if he didn’t put some distance between the sweet-tasting little lady and his hot self right now, he’d do something he’d seriously regret. Business first. He had to deal with the Becker thing before he let himself explore the sizzling chemistry between them. It was only fair. He jerked her against him one last time. Dammit, she fit against him so perfectly. She looked bewildered when he finally released her. “Uh, okay.” She caught the back of the stool, steadied herself.

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He licked his lower lip, tasting her. Raked his fingers through his hair. His balls were heavy and tight, like lead. Her hair was mussed, her cheeks flushed, lips swollen, and he could still see those two beautiful, hard nipples poking through the fabric of her top. A woman ripe and ready for a good, long fuck. But not tonight. Wondering if a guy could die from blue balls, he downed the rest of his wine and led her up the stairs to the guest bedroom. After making sure she had everything she’d need for the night, he left, heading straight for the shower. It was a poor substitute, but he’d have to settle for his hand and a bar of soap to relieve the pressure. But someday—maybe—he’d have the real thing. With the first woman who’d intrigued him in a long, long time.

***** Elena didn’t sleep. It wasn’t because she was physically uncomfortable. How could she be in this bed? The mattress was like a freaking cloud, it was so soft. And the bedroom was absolutely beautiful. But the constant stream of thoughts running through her mind just wouldn’t stop. She lay there all night, trying to figure out what Kyler was thinking, how she’d keep her job, why he’d stopped kissing her when it was so obvious she’d wanted things to go much, much farther. She could taste him on her lips for hours afterward, smell his skin on her fingers. She’d always thought he was an attractive man. But now that she’d been this close, now that he’d looked at her like that—like he wanted her so bad it hurt—she found him absolutely irresistible. It was hard to remember that he might end up causing her to lose her job and the insurance she so desperately needed. She didn’t want to think about that right now. Not when she felt such an overwhelming connection with him. It was at least ten times more powerful than any she’d felt for a guy before.

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Their timing just plain sucked. Then again, she wondered, would she have ever realized how she felt about Kyler—or how he felt about her—if Matt hadn’t shoved them both into this corner? By sunrise, she was exhausted and ten times more confused than she’d been the night before. She ached to tell Kyler everything, including what Matt was holding over her head, and why she was so desperate to hold on to her job. But there were some secrets she simply couldn’t tell anyone, especially people from work. Only Ashley knew, and that was because they’d been friends for so long. She showered and donned the fluffy white robe Kyler had given her last night. There was a knock at the door, just as she’d exited the attached bathroom. A towel wrapped around her long hair, she padded barefoot across the world’s softest carpet to open the door. Kyler. Her heart did a weird little hop in her chest. “Hi.” “Good morning.” His gaze swept down her body then back up. “Do you need a little longer?” “Just a few minutes. Sorry, I didn’t realize we were on a schedule. I never sleep in this late.” “It’s okay.” He smiled and her heart did another lurch in her chest. It was the oddest sensation. Strange and yet kind of good too. “Whenever you’re ready, come on down for breakfast.” “Will do. Thanks.” She wanted to say more, but she didn’t. She just waited for him to turn away and then shut the door. Anxious to get downstairs, she rushed to dress, throwing on yesterday’s clothes— sans the used underwear—and hurried downstairs. She found him in the kitchen, looking all domestic, stirring something in a huge frying pan on the stove. Whatever it was, it smelled amazing.

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Talk about amazing, he was wearing a pair of sweats and a snug tank top that provided her very first view of bare arms and shoulders. Droooool! “What are you cooking there?” she asked, her gaze focused on his narrow waist. She could imagine herself smoothing her hands around his sides, and tucking herself against his back. Instead, she stopped at the raised counter and slipped onto a barstool. “It’s my own creation. Egg Beaters, veggie sausage, and cheese, onions and peppers. Would you like to try some? Or can I make you something else?” Elena’s mouth was watering, and she realized just how starving she was. It seemed her jittery nerves weren’t going to stand in the way of eating this morning. “If that concoction tastes as great as it smells, you may need to make another batch. I might eat it all.” He chuckled. What a great sound it was. She could listen to him do that for hours. He served up two plates, poured a couple of glasses of orange juice, set the newspaper between their plates and joined her at the bar. Such a gentleman, he didn’t take a bite until she did. Was this guy for real? She stared at the Homes section of the paper as she ate, forced herself to pretend he wasn’t there, just to get something solid in her stomach. She had a feeling she was going to need it. Kyler seemed to respect her need for a little bit of quiet. He sat silent beside her, eating, reading the financial section. Just as she took her last bite, he folded the paper and cleared his throat. “Now that we’re both rested—and full—I want to talk to you about Becker.” She pushed her empty plate forward and set her elbows on the hard countertop. She flattened her hands on the cool surface. “Yeah.” If only she were there for a different reason, like on a date. This sucked.

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“I want to ask you again to tell me what Becker’s holding over your head.” Staring at the black stone, the flecks of brown and gold, she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.” A cordless phone sat within reach. She picked it up, weighed it in her hand, flipped it over and stared at the glowing keypad. She heard him sigh heavily. He gently took the phone from her and set it on the counter. “I’m trying to find a way to handle this situation so that neither of us gets hurt in the process. But if you don’t tell me, I can’t guarantee to do that.” How she wished he could handle Becker without her getting in the middle. She glanced up at him, noticed how serious his expression was. How focused he seemed to be. “That’s nice of you, but like I said last night, there’s nothing you can do. I’m screwed.” He pushed his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been thinking about this all night.” “Me too.” Their gazes met, and she swore sparks were flying through the air. Insanity. To be reacting this way when she was facing such a totally devastating threat to everything she cared about. It took her a few seconds to summon the strength to untangle her gaze from his, but she did. Went back to staring down at the countertop. And her thoughts took a swerve back in the right direction—toward the important stuff. If only there was a simple answer. But if life had taught her anything, it had taught her that simple answers usually led to lots of complications in the future. There was a loooong stretch of uncomfortable silence. Finally, Kyler said, “Okay, this is the deal. You’re going to…” He sighed. “Dammit.” She looked at him. He was obviously struggling with this, and for that she felt sorry for him. Here he was, trying to deal with an asshole, while doing his best to keep her

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out of things. He was a nice guy. A nice guy who didn’t deserve the shit he’d been dished. Life was so unfair sometimes. She’d lost the bet. He’d won. Fairly and squarely. But that didn’t stop her from wanting him to tell her to just leave, go to work, do what she’d planned, and he’d deal with the fallout when the time came. The insane part of her didn’t want to go anywhere. He sighed for the bazillionth time. “You’re going to stay here, and I’m going to handle whatever happens.” She wanted to believe he could do just that—take care of everything. Make all her problems go away. Just like she wanted to believe he wouldn’t totally freak out if she told him exactly what dirt Becker had on her. Maybe he’d believe it was a lie? Made up? No, probably not. She should just come clean. After all, he was bound to learn the truth soon enough. All the board members and vice presidents would know by lunchtime Monday. Wouldn’t it be better to tell him now? Prepare him? Oh God, she felt sick. She swiveled the stool, facing him. Took several deep breaths. Then a few more. “Okay. I’ll tell you.” “Okay. Good.” He didn’t smile. He just sat there, looking at her expectantly, patiently waiting for her to untie the knot from her tongue. God, this was hard. Where to start? She couldn’t look at him as she spoke. “This goes back a few years. My parents died. It was one of those freakish things that never should’ve happened but did.” “I’m sorry.” She believed him. “Thanks.” Still not sure she could do this, actually confess to a crime that might land her in jail for years, she took a few more deep breaths. “This is

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hard to talk about. I haven’t told anyone, since what I did was against the law. But, well… I didn’t have any choice. My brother and I were sent to live with an older cousin and well…she…something happened to her too…and I knew my brother would end up getting sent—” The phone rang, interrupting the explanation she was trying so hard to get out. She was both glad and annoyed. Kyler glanced at the caller ID screen on the phone’s back. “Shit. I need to take this. Hang on.” He hit the button. “Hey. Give me a second,” he said to the caller. To Elena, he said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” Then he left the room. Oh. My. God. What am I thinking? She had just about told Kyler her darkest secret, a man she was not only really attracted to but also a vice president at her work. Had she lost her mind? She wasn’t telling him another word. She’d nearly made one of the biggest mistakes of her life. Saved by the phone. She needed to get out of there, before she did something she’d really regret. She hurried upstairs to her room, found her purse, dug out her cell phone and flipped it open. Two bars. She hoped she had enough battery power to talk her prying best friend into driving over here to pick her up. Quickly, she scrolled down to Ashley’s phone number and hit send. But just as Ashley answered, there was a loud knock at the door, and then it swung open and Kyler barged into the room, looking like a bull seeing red. Shit. What now? She snapped her phone shut and dropped it into her purse. “Who’re you calling? Becker?” He snatched her purse out of her hands, and she shrieked, caught completely off guard, petrified. He threw it out into the hall and slammed the door, blocking the exit with his bulk. “We need to talk.”

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She just glared at him. Thank God she hadn’t gone any further with him last night. Or told him anything this morning. He was acting like a total jerk all of a sudden. God, she was such a total idiot! He crossed his arms over his chest and stared right back at her. “I just had an interesting conversation about you.” Shit, maybe someone besides Matt knew her secret. But how? “I was such an idiot. I didn’t want to believe it at first. But then, all the evidence was pretty damning.” He paused for a moment then started walking a wide circle around her. “You’re quite the package. Hot body. Gorgeous face. It makes sense.” He stopped directly in front of her, pinched her chin between his forefinger and thumb, lifting it until she made eye contact with him. “Too bad every word that comes out of your mouth is a lie. You almost had me.” He actually snarled that last sentence. “A lie? I—uh…” She had no idea what he was talking about. But that didn’t stop her from feeling really crappy. He released her chin and took a single step back from her. “Anyway, your little secret’s out.” It was? Oh God! Now what? “I tried to explain, earlier—” “Just don’t,” he interrupted. “I’ve heard all I can stomach right now. It’s making me sick. I thought you were different, that you’d just found yourself dragged into someone else’s shit…but I know better now.” His eyes narrowed to cold, piercing slits. “I’ll have the situation wrapped up by Monday afternoon…” Did that mean she could go home? Right now, that sounded really, really good. She’d need to pull her brother out of the hospital if she could. Pack some things. “But I’m holding you to your word. I know I can’t trust you now. I let you loose, and you and Becker will have my career flushed down the toilet by the end of the day, weekend or not. No, since you lost the bet, you’re going to pay the price.” She could literally feel the heat of his enraged glare on her skin. It burned like a branding iron.

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“You’re here with me. My slave. For the next three days. You won’t speak until I tell you to. Eat. Nothing. I. Own. You. If you try to leave, I’ll have you arrested.” Oh, this was just great. It was obvious Kyler was seriously pissed. Whether he knew that secret, or something else—whatever that might be—he had decided he was going to make her pay. Revenge was one dish she’d never enjoyed, not serving…and especially not swallowing.

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Chapter Three Kyler had never felt so out of control of his emotions before. He was so enraged right now he wanted to pound something to dust. He needed to get out of there now, before he did something he’d regret. Without speaking another word, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. He went down to his gym, cranked on the heavy metal music and worked off his anger with a hard run on the treadmill and supersets for his chest and shoulders. By the time he was done, he was sweaty, sore and a little bit calmer. Maybe he should send the scheming bitch home and deal with this situation a different way. For some reason, she pushed his buttons, made him feel things he didn’t want to. Dammit, he’d actually thought he knew her. What a fucking fool he’d been. The information had come from the one person he knew he could trust. It couldn’t be a lie. Stacy had no reason to make things up, especially something like this. She’d been his friend for years, long before he’d brought her onboard at work. They’d never been lovers. She couldn’t be jealous in that respect, and she’d worked herself up in the company, to a position higher than Elena’s. Again, no reason for her to be jealous there either. It had to be true—Elena wasn’t being manipulated into this thing with Becker like he’d thought. Elena was Becker’s lover, and was expecting a promotion once Becker, the obvious choice for VP of sales, received his promotion. Such bullshit, all of it. He wanted to make both of them pay, but for some reason, more of his anger was directed at Elena. No doubt because she’d stung his pride. He thought he was a good

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judge of character. Becker, he’d always suspected was a shit. But Elena…she was quite the little actress. Now if only he could tell his dick she wasn’t worth shit. His cock still got hard when he saw her. His blood warmed. How could he be so fucking attracted to a woman he detested? Yes, he should probably send her home and let his old man’s private detective do his job. But he knew Becker would find a way to get his fake proof to the brass before the end of the weekend, and who knew whether the detective Kyler had just called would get anything to counter it in time? Nope, dammit, Elena couldn’t leave. Not until his detective had something or she’d told him where the fake documents were. If he was going to save his ass, he needed something concrete to take to the board. He had to strike before Becker. There was no way in hell those two scheming fucks were going to screw up his life. He knew exactly how to make Elena talk. He’d use the same tool against her as she’d used against him. Sex.

***** Elena made it as far as Kyler’s front door but she didn’t have the guts to walk out. At this point, she had no idea what he knew and what he didn’t. She also had no inkling of what proof he might have against her or whether he’d meant it when he’d said he’d have her arrested if she left. At the moment, she supposed the devil she knew was a better risk than the demon she didn’t. She went back up to her room and shut the door, flopped on the bed, closed her eyes and tried to think her way through this mess. Things were going from bad to worse somehow. Was it a coincidence? Think, Elena, think.

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This wasn’t the first time she’d had to think her way out of an impossible corner. Many years ago, she’d found herself with her back up against a wall, forced to choose between two impossible options. That decision had impacted so many things, including this whole crap with Matt and Kyler. And still, she knew if she’d been given a second chance, she wouldn’t have been able to make any other choice. It had been for her brother. Worry for him made her insides hurt. When she didn’t show up today, he’d be upset. That might not be a big deal for most kids. But for Eddy, a small disappointment could cause major problems. He was so fragile. Delicate. She glanced at the clock. Kyler had been gone for over an hour. What kind of hell could he be planning for her? She didn’t want to imagine. If only he’d tell her what he’d learned, let her try to explain. Or not. Depending upon what it was, she supposed an explanation might make things worse. The door swung open and he walked into the room. His skin was glistening with sweat, his face flushed, and the ends of his hair were spiked, wet. “Glad to see you didn’t leave.” His words were clipped, his voice frigid. “I wanted to,” she confessed, sensing he needed to see a little honesty from her. Whatever had made him so upset, she guessed, had to be somehow directly tied to him, his pride. It was his emotional reaction that made her think so. The “I was such a fool” statement. He nodded. “Will you tell me why you’re so angry?” He looked away. Her nerves crawling, she watched his throat work as he swallowed. Nothing. “You won’t give me a chance to explain?” “I don’t know if I can believe anything you say.” 36

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Where did that leave her? This man, whose eyes were cold as icicles, held her job in the palm of his hand. Her job, the medical insurance that paid for her brother’s treatment. Her entire future. She couldn’t get any more desperate than that. “What will it take to prove to you that I can be believed? I stayed. Right? You didn’t lock me in. You won the bet, and I didn’t leave, even though I wanted to.” “Yeah, well, that could also be because you didn’t want your pretty little ass hauled to jail.” “I’m not sure that would be any worse,” she said, frankly. “I mean, you’re throwing these threats around, acting one way one second, totally different the next. It’s confusing. Scary.” Her eyes were burning, darn it. Her nose. Don’t cry. He’ll think you’re trying to manipulate him. She blinked several times. His eyes narrowed, his gaze becoming even chillier. Subarctic. “There you go with the waterworks again. I see now. Whenever you get backed into a corner, you throw the switch, the tears start to flow, and you’re off the hook.” He crowded her, grabbed her chin and glared into her eyes. “It doesn’t work with me anymore. I know the truth about you now. I know you’re fucking Matt Becker, and you’re itching for a promotion—from the whore of a sales manager to the whore of a vice president.” She felt sick. Was that really what he believed? “No, I’m not sleeping with Matt. You’re wrong.” “Funny.” He dragged his thumb over her lower lip. He walked her backward, until her back hit the wall. He thrust his arms forward, caging her head between them. “But if you’d just come to me, I’d have fucked you. You could’ve had your vice president. In fact…” He dropped his head and kissed her roughly. His tongue thrust into her mouth, in complete domination. Instantly, her body was on fire. Yes, this was what she’d wanted last night. Pulses of liquid heat pounded down her torso to the juncture of her thighs. Despite her 37

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confusion, she kissed him back, letting the searing heat of the kiss burn away everything. Insanity! This was complete craziness. But she couldn’t help reacting to his kisses. She’d been waiting, ready. She moaned, stroking his tongue with hers. Exploring the sweet depths of his mouth. He bent his elbows, crushing his hard body against hers. Wedged a knee between her trembling thighs. Crazy! She moaned, rocking her hips back and forth, desperate to rub away the ache building between her legs. He suckled her tongue and she slid her hands up his stomach, whimpering. Her head was swimming. Her body melting. Her brain short-circuiting. She was falling, sliding down the wall, unable to remain standing another second. Her pussy rested on his knee, a support. Oh, the sensation. The glory of that hard leg against her soft, swollen tissues. Insanity! He caught her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, laid her on it and then climbed over her. More of those amazing nuclear-reactor-hot kisses. He gave her more, and she accepted him, eagerly. His hands started at the sides of her face but—much to her joy—didn’t remain there for long. Down her neck they traveled, to her shoulders, lower. He cupped her breasts and she arched her back, pushing her breasts into his hands. I need to stop this. Right now. Stop. Now. She tried to turn her head, but he caught her face in his hands again, kissing her until she couldn’t move, didn’t want to move. Wanted nothing less than his hands on her naked body, his cock buried deep inside her wet pussy.

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She’d be sorry for this later, no doubt about it. But for the first time in years, she just wanted to forget about shoulds and should-nots and let go, follow her impulses instead of her head. When Kyler lifted his weight off her body, she slid her hands inside his shirt. Soft skin over flexing, shifting concrete. She found a hard little nipple, teased it with her index finger and received a low groan as a reward. He broke the kiss and gazed down at her through heavy-lidded eyes full of raw lust. They weren’t cold anymore, nope. Instead of the arctic blue of a frozen sea they were the steamy blue of a gas flame. She felt her face warming, her chest. His tongue darted out, slicking his full lower lip, and she stared, transfixed. This man had the world’s most stunning features. Eyes that instantly made a girl melt. Sharp cheekbones that cast deep shadows on his face. A masculine jaw stubbled with the hint of a beard. And that mouth, oh, that mouth. He tasted better than anything. She ached for another kiss, another touch—soft and gentle or hard and possessive. Either way, both ways. Didn’t matter. “Goddammit,” he muttered. “What the fuck are we doing?” “I-I don’t know.” She reached up inside his shirt again, found that nipple, flicked her fingertip over the pebbled peak. His lips parted and his gaze heated up another hundred degrees or so. “But I want you to know, it’s not because you’re vice president. I just want you.” He squeezed her head between his hands, his gaze sharp as razors. “You say the right things…What the hell do I believe?” She held his penetrating gaze, knowing if she glanced away, she’d lose any chance of gaining his trust. “Believe your heart, Kyler.” He crushed her body under his and kissed her to oblivion.

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Follow his heart. Yeah, that’s what she said. That’s what they all said—women who were looking to manipulate him. Just like his ex-fiancée. Some women knew how to work a man, knew how to use his weaknesses to get what they wanted. He’d made it really easy for Elena too. Dammit, looks were so fucking deceiving. And here he thought he’d learned. He’d lived by the trust-none-of-them rule for over two years and things had been going so great. Follow his heart. Hah. I know what you’re up to, you little schemer. “Kyler? What’s wrong?” But dammit, he was so fucking hard right now. He could barely see straight. He’d bet she was wet, her slick passage ready for him. Why should he stop himself? If Elena was willing to give it up, why should he deny himself? He could fuck her, and then he’d leave her sit in this room until Tuesday. If that was what she wanted to do to herself—let men fuck her to get ahead—then that was what she’d get from him. Still straddling Elena, on his knees, he yanked his shirt off then rolled off the bed and pulled off his pants and underwear. She was still wearing that clingy knit top and those black pants. He wanted to see her fully unclothed but lacked the patience. Instead, after she unbuttoned and unzipped the fly, he just yanked her slacks down her smooth, slender legs and tossed them on the floor. No underpants. Even better. “Kyler!” He didn’t meet her gaze as he wedged his hips between her legs. Rolled on a rubber. He didn’t kiss her again, just fingered her slick heat, prepared to drive his cock deep inside her. He replaced his fingers with the tip of his rod. She shoved at his chest. “Kyler. Stop! Why are you acting like this?” Dammit.

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Fuck. What the hell was he doing? He couldn’t go through with this. That would make him no better than that piece of shit, Becker. Disgusted with himself, with Becker, and with Elena, he jerked upright and tugged off the rubber. “You bastard.” She had no right to look that way at him now, like he was a heartless beast. She’d begged him, not the other way around. “What’s wrong?” he echoed. “Wasn’t this what you expected?” She didn’t speak, just dragged her legs back together and pulled the coverlet over herself. “I guess that’s a no.” He tossed the rubber in the trash can then grabbed his pants and shirt. He stepped into his sweats, didn’t bother with the underwear or the tank. He sat on the edge of the bed. Elena’s eyes were frigid, her gaze distant, her expression completely blank. For about three seconds, he was actually sorry for treating her like the whore she was determined to be. Then she swung her little fist at him, her target his nose. He dodged the blow and pushed to his feet. “A little hint. If you’re going to use sex to get what you want, you’ve got to learn to look at it like a pro. It’s just a fuck. A cock and a pussy.” He left, shutting the door behind him, closing himself off from Elena…and the guilt eating at his gut.

***** Elena wasn’t sure what was worse—the shame she felt after that…whatever it was. The knowledge that she was fucked in an altogether different way. Or the fact that she was totally devastated by Kyler’s absolutely frigid treatment. He’d treated her like she was a worthless piece of crap. Why? He’d said she was using sex to get what she wanted. That was the farthest thing from the truth. 41

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Maybe it was simply impossible for the two of them to communicate. It seemed he was always misreading her, mistrusting her, misunderstanding her. What had set him off this time? Oh, who cared? She didn’t need this shit. She just needed to go home, do some packing and try to figure out how she’d start over again. She was exhausted already. She inched open the door, checked both directions. No sign of Kyler. Eyes blurry with tears, she hurried down the hall, making a beeline for the staircase. As she skipped down the steps, she kept looking, listening for Kyler, expecting him to pop out from somewhere and make good on his threat. She made it as far as the foot of the staircase before she stopped. It sure would be nice if she could find her car keys. Was it worth a shot? She heard a sound from the general direction of the great room. Oh, hell, she was already eyeball deep in trouble. What worse could happen? She rushed back upstairs. There were seven doors, all closed. One of them, she knew, led to her room. She started at the one closest to the stairs. Opened it. Peeked inside. Gasped. Shut it. Not the room she was looking for, nope. She opened the door again. Wow. She’d never seen a room like this before, well, not in person. A bondage room. Dungeon. She’d always wondered what it would be like playing in a room like this. Playing. What a word. The truth was, she’d been curious about BDSM for quite some time. She’d done a lot of reading, soul searching. She’d even mentioned it to Ashley. Maybe Ashley was right, her fascination with Domination and submission was because she’d been forced to grow up too early, had the weight of her younger brother’s care dumped on her slender shoulders before she’d been truly ready to handle it. She didn’t know. All she knew was that this world, of submission and trust and control, was calling to her. She sensed it would fill a deep need.

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If only she’d been able to find the right man to explore these things with. Ironic that Kyler was into this stuff. After today, he was the last man she’d trust with her vulnerabilities. She glanced over her shoulder, checking the hall before moving deeper into the room. Touching the furniture would make it more real, more possible. She headed for the sex swing first. How’d the thing work? She could see it was little more than a collection of metal poles and straps, now that she was closer. The seat was just a narrow band. Same with the back. She headed for another piece, a pair of benches angling away from each other, a wooden cross was affixed to the wall at the point where they met. She sat on the benches, legs spread so that a thigh rested on each one, supporting her weight. Nothing sat directly beneath her bottom. She closed her eyes, indulging in a quick fantasy. If she was naked and with a dark and mysterious Dom… The door swung open and, desperate to not be caught sitting on Kyler’s bondage gear with her legs spread—especially after his last comment—she flopped forward, landing on her hands and knees. Of course he’d found her here. It was just her luck. “Now that’s an interesting position,” he said from the doorway. His voice was sharp, his gaze piercing, smoldering. Oh God, she was mortified. Trying to save face, she scooped up her purse and scrambled to her feet. She wanted to give him some excuse for being in this room, but what could she possibly say that wouldn’t make her look even worse? Already, he believed she was a whore, the kind of woman who fucked her way into a promotion. Nothing she’d said had convinced him otherwise. In fact, it seemed the last words she’d spoken had made things a lot worse.

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So, rather than offer him up some more ammunition to use against her, she jerked her gaze from his and hurried past him, back to her room. Once inside, she collapsed on the bed. What now? She really, really wanted to find her keys before she headed out. Was it practical for her to leave without them? Never mind her car, her house was locked too. She’d have to break in to get inside. She dug in her purse for her phone, flipped it open. Down to one bar now. Shoot! Did it have enough juice to call Ashley? Maybe she shouldn’t use up the last few nanoseconds of her cell’s battery life now, when she might be able to use a landline to call instead. The cordless phone had been downstairs, in the kitchen. She wondered if Kyler had another phone upstairs. Most people had more than one phone jack, especially in a house this size. She checked her room, found no phone. She listened at the door. It sounded like Kyler had gone back downstairs. Good. She’d go hunting again. Most people had a phone in the master bedroom. She inched open the door, peered up and down the hall. No Kyler. Good. She tiptoed down the hall to the next door, opened it. Another bedroom. But it looked like another guestroom. What did one person need with a bazillion bedrooms, anyway? This house was ridiculously big for a single guy. He practically had enough beds to sleep in a different one each night. She closed that door and headed to the next one. Another guest bedroom. Then a bathroom. Finally, at the end of the hall, she found the master bedroom. And oh, what a master bedroom it was. The guestrooms were all very nice. Kyler’s room made them look like rooms at a cheapskate motel. It was decorated nothing like the rest of the house. Instead of the 44

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contemporary style of the main living areas and guest bedrooms, it was much more elegant, sophisticated, yet traditional. A bed the size of a football field sat in the center of one wall, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows draped in gorgeous curtains. Three walls were painted a soft silvery-blue. The fourth, the one with the bed and windows, was a deep, cool brown, with the exception of directly behind the headboard. That section of wall boasted three large white panels, framed in ornate trim. The bed itself was a masterpiece. The black headboard had a sexy, slightly French-ish, curved shape and was hand-painted with swirling ivy and flowers. In another room, it might’ve looked feminine, but not in this one. A noise downstairs reminded her of why she’d better hurry. She ran across the thickly carpeted floor to the first of two nightstands situated on either side of the bed. She checked the surface for a phone then ran around the bed and checked the other one. No phone? She did a quick 360 then headed for what she hoped might be a walk-in closet on the other side of the room. Nope. Bathroom. And no laundry basket. She tried the door next to it. Score! She stepped into one of those closet rooms, the kind that had cedar walls and fancy built-in furniture with shoe racks and drawers. On one shelf, she found a basket, and her keys. No phone. Well, one out of two wasn’t bad. She could still use her cell, call Ashley, schedule a time for them to meet and then head back to the restaurant to get her car. On the way, she’d tell Ashley everything. No sense keeping it from her anymore. Ashley might be tempted to do something foolish to set things right, but now that Elena had pretty much accepted the fact that her job was history, there wasn’t much damage an enraged out-of-control best friend could do. She jammed her keys in her pocket and hurried down the hall, back to her room. She called Ashley, told her she desperately needed her help, told her the address—

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thank God Kyler had left a pile of mail in his closet. They planned on meeting in exactly one hour. Elena didn’t want Kyler to know she’d left, at least not right away. She told Ashley she’d meet her down the street, and warned her not to come to the house no matter what. Her phone chirped a warning just as they were wrapping up the brief conversation, and died just before she ended the call. She stuffed her useless phone in her purse and rushed back down the stairs. She made it as far as the front door when Kyler came sauntering from a room just to the left of the door. He looked her up and down. “Where are you going?” She thought about lying. Then she thought about telling the truth. It was too late for the lies to do any good anymore. “I’m leaving. But don’t worry, I won’t bother going to work on Monday.” She brushed past him, her gaze locked on the door’s handle. He caught her shoulders and jerked her around. “No, no. We had a deal.” He was not going to hold her to that stupid bet, was he? This whole blackmail thing was so over with. It wasn’t a game anymore, and she wasn’t deluding herself either. She wasn’t his guest. They weren’t on a date. And he didn’t give a rat’s ass about her. Her heart was banging against her breastbone so hard it hurt. And she could literally see her hands shaking. “I think we both know the game’s over.” She spun back around, wrapped her fingers around the handle. “You win.” Once again, she was hauled back around. She growled as she tried to fight free of Kyler’s iron-handed grip. “You’re not leaving.” He dragged her toward the room he’d just exited, an office with an enormous desk, bookcases, couch, a pair of chairs and a sleek fireplace. “Holding me here against my will is false imprisonment.” “So, are you going to the police?” He rough-handed her toward the couch. “Sit down.” His face was the shade of a tomato as he glared down at her.

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God, this dominating, controlling jerk thing was pissing her off. She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead, at the empty fireplace. “I’d rather stand, thank you. Actually, I’d rather leave but you’re being a bastard.” “Fine. Stand then.” He rounded the desk and eased into the chair behind it. “I’m going to ask you one simple question, and I expect you to answer it truthfully.” “Yeah, so, what’s in it for me?” “That depends,” he said, coolly, resting his elbows on his desk. “I think you’ve got a whole lot more at stake than I do. Are you a gambler?” At least five seconds ticked past, each one measured by the grandfather clock standing in the room’s corner. “Fine, what’s the question?” “I just want to know one thing…who the hell are you? I have a picture of Elena Caine, and you’re not her.”

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Chapter Four Well, fuck. The cat was out of the bag now. How had he discovered her lie? And more importantly, she wondered how many other people knew. Petrified, she dropped onto her butt on the couch and searched his face. Was he ready to call the police? She wished he was genuinely interested in knowing the answer to the question he’d asked—for more personal reasons. Wished he was back to being the concerned guy she’d met the first night. But that guy was long gone. “I tried to tell you earlier,” she confessed. “In the kitchen. Remember when I told you about the cousin my brother and I had been sent to live with?” His brows furrowed, he nodded, steepled his fingers under his chin. “Yeah.” “Well, Elena Caine is—was—her name. How’d you find out?” “My father has a private detective on the payroll.” “Your father needs a private detective on his payroll?” “Long story. We don’t have much time. I’d rather hear yours.” His voice had softened a little, which was a surprise. She’d pretty much expected him to keep playing the heartless bastard he’d become since this morning. “Mine’s pretty long too, but I can give you the abbreviated version. I was born Amy Harris. Our cousin, Elena Caine, died shortly after my brother and I had been sent to live with her—and no, I did not kill her. And well…my best friend got rid of her body somewhere—I didn’t tell her to—and I took over Elena Caine’s identity.” He looked bewildered. She could understand his reaction. “Why would you do that?” She stared blindly at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. “Seems pretty crazy, doesn’t it? Right out of a movie script or crime television show. In fact, my friend got the idea

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from a TV program and convinced me it was the only way. I did it for one reason—my brother.” She glanced up, afraid of what she’d see. He encouraged her to continue with a nod. His expression was totally blank, devoid of all emotion. She had no clue what he was feeling. “Eddy’s…sick. He has been in and out of the hospital for much of his life. The only constant in his life has been me. I was afraid that if he were put into foster care he’d either be abused, misunderstood, neglected or die.” “What’s wrong with him?” “He’s severely bipolar. But at the time of my cousin’s death, we still didn’t have a diagnosis. I was pretty much taking care of him around the clock. Later, I was given legal power of attorney, or rather Elena Caine was. I was forever trapped in my lie. There was no going back. And so I’ve carried around this secret for years. Until Matt found out somehow. He threatened to have me fired. Without insurance, my brother’s treatment will stop.” “Maybe Becker stumbled upon the same photograph my father’s detective found.” Kyler’s gaze dropped to his desk. His expression turned grim. He leaned back in his chair. Finally, he lifted his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Because what I did is against the law, and frankly I didn’t feel I could trust you. I don’t just go to jail if my lie is discovered. I could live with that. It’s what it would do to my brother…” He bit his lower lip. “Yeah.” The most agonizing silence followed. She felt sick to her stomach, wondering, waiting. What would Kyler do with the truth? He finally lifted his head and stood. She watched him walk across the room, stop in front of her. He scrubbed his face with his hands, then shoved his hands into his pocket. “Your car’s outside. I had it towed here. Go home, Elena. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

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***** Kyler hit the button, ending the call. Sure enough, at least some of Elena’s story had been confirmed. Tom and Sue Harris had tragically died in a car accident, leaving their two children parentless. In addition, Edward—Eddy—Harris was a patient at the Longfellow Center in downtown Ann Arbor. Elena had told him the truth, at least about those things. Before he ended the call with the detective, he gave him one more assignment, “Check out Stacy Beautfort for me. Dig deep. Either she’s dirty or she’s being fed some shitty information from somewhere. I want to know which one it is.”

***** Elena must have sat in her car for at least an hour, staring at Kyler’s house. He’d given her her walking papers, told her she could leave. He’d take care of everything. She should be home now, preparing. Checking in on her brother. And looking to see how much cash she had in her stash, getting ready to pack up and leave town in a hurry. But she wasn’t. She couldn’t. She’d even plugged her cell phone into her car charger and called Ashley, telling her not to come. Why? First, because she wanted to know who had told Kyler she was sleeping with Matt Becker. That was so far from the truth. Just the thought of that man touching her made her gag. As she sat there, toying with her cell’s charger wire, trying to work up the nerve to leave, a million thoughts kept running through her head. Should she go to work on Monday and plant the evidence? Or should she just pack up and leave town? What exactly was Kyler thinking? Finally, she decided to go back up to the house and ask him. There were too many things hanging in the air for her to know how to plan. She cut off her car’s engine and hurried back up to the front door. Rang the bell. And waited. 50

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Kyler looked so shocked to see her, she swore she could’ve knocked him over with a feather. “I can’t leave yet,” she explained, coolly. “I’m…surprised. Ummm, come in.” He raked his fingers through his hair again as he stepped aside to let her in. “I’ve been thinking this past hour. And, well, earlier. When you…I had no right… Shit, I’m sorry. Not that I’m making an excuse, because there are none. No matter what, I have no right to treat you the way I did. But I’d heard one thing from you and something different from another person, and I was having one hell of a time knowing who to believe.” She could understand that. She nodded. “Who told you I was sleeping with Matt?” “It doesn’t matter who said what or who you’re sleeping with. That’s none of my business.” Wasn’t his business? That was true, but she still felt like he’d punched her in the gut when he said it. His gaze dropped to the floor. He shook his head. “I’m so fucked in the head.” When he finally lifted his head again, his jaw was set. His expression was so dark, she didn’t know what to think. Suddenly, he turned around and headed toward his office. She stood in the foyer for a few minutes, not sure whether she should follow him or just forget it and head back out to her car. Finally, she decided to try to get the answers she’d come back for. She stopped at his office door and, leaning on the doorframe, peered in. “What are you going to do about Matt blackmailing me? I just need to know, so I can make plans.” He was sitting at his desk, his face buried in his hands. “I’m still trying to figure that out.” “Maybe I should just go away. Leave town. Start over somewhere.” He tipped his head up, looking at her. “Where will you go? What will you do?”

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She shrugged. “I don’t know yet. But I might not have a choice. Once Matt takes the proof he has about my cousin, I’ll be fired. I wouldn’t put it past him to take the information to the police too, like he threatened. He’d do that.” Silence. “Not if I give him what he wants first.” “What do you mean?” She followed Kyler with her eyes as he stood, ran his hands down the front of his creased trousers. “I could quit. It’s a fucking shame. I didn’t want to leave my job. It’s the first thing I’ve accomplished without my father’s help, and it’s taken me over ten years to get where I am. But keeping my pride isn’t worth the price you’d have to pay.” Did she just hear right? Kyler was willing to give up his job—the one that clearly meant more than she had ever guessed—for her? She sat there, stunned, as he called Matt and told him he’d won, the VP position was as good as his, but only if he brought the evidence he had against her…all of it…to his house by six o’clock tonight. No one had ever done anything that selfless for her. “Thank you,” she said. It seemed so inadequate but she didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t have the means to pay him back. He nodded, toyed with the cordless phone. “I want to make another phone call. But I won’t, if you tell me not to.” “Who’re you going to call?” “My father. I haven’t asked him for any help in years, but I’d like to see what we can do for you. To keep something like this from coming up again.” Kyler had already gone above and beyond, no doubt trying to make up for his earlier mistreatment. Life had taught her that there was a price to pay for any favors done for her, at least favors that weren’t owed. She never liked to owe anyone. She shook her head. “I don’t know about that. I’d rather you didn’t.”

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“Okay.” She was relieved when he didn’t push it, try to change her mind. She actually felt the air moving in and out of her lungs freely again. How long had she been holding her breath? He walked to her, stopped within reaching distance but didn’t touch her. Not a reassuring pat or a squeeze of the hand. Nothing. “Now go home. Get some rest. I’ll call you after I’ve had my little talk with Becker. I’ll let you know how it went.” This time, despite the heaviness in her chest, she had no problems getting into her car and driving home.

***** Kyler slid into the booth opposite Becker. “This is cozy.” Settling into his seat, he eyed the place, an Italian restaurant with a dark atmosphere and tables covered in floorlength burgundy tablecloths. “I half expected you to stiff me.” “I thought about it. But what the hell? You were singing a song I liked. I wanted to hear the rest.” The man was shit. It turned Kyler’s stomach having to be even this close to Matt Becker. And God help the company if this kind of asshole was going to be VP. The missing money, which Becker had almost pinned on him, was the half of it. “So, I’d like to know, how are you going to cover your ass, Becker?” Becker waved a hand at the waiter and ordered his dinner and an expensive bottle of wine, speaking perfect Italian. “I’ll manage.” Interesting. Becker wasn’t exactly what he’d call cultured. Nor was he Italian. There was more to the slimeball than Kyler knew. Much more. The waiter turned to Kyler. Kyler shook his head. “Niente, grazie.” He didn’t exactly have a stomach for trenette alle vongole or fegato alla veneziana tonight. “If I resign on Monday, you’ll forget everything you know about the office manager.” 53

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After a long moment and several swallows of wine, Becker smiled. “I could be…convinced…” The bastard was looking for more? Fuck that. Disgusted, Kyler stood. Leaning over the asshole, he whispered, “Two can play this game, you fucking piece of shit. You want to make an innocent woman’s life hell by dragging all her skeletons out of her closet, then I can do the same. Your closet isn’t exactly uninhabited, is it?” Something flashed in Becker’s eyes. Fear, perhaps? If things didn’t go his way tonight, he’d get in touch with the detective again, see if he could dig up more details about this guy. He was hiding something. Dammit, if he’d had more time, this conversation might have gone very differently. In fact, it might not have gone at all. Instead, he might have been talking to the police right now, giving a statement. Eyes narrowed, Becker set down his wineglass. “How about you sit down and we talk about this?” “Last chance.” Kyler sat, crossed his arms over his chest. “Give me the proof I came for, tell me you’re going to forget you’ve ever heard or read anything about the office manager, or I’ll take what I have and go to the police.” “If you had anything, you wouldn’t be talking to me right now. Giving up your job.” Kyler shrugged. “Maybe I was tired of playing the sales and marketing game?” “I don’t buy that. So, the question I want answered is why would you give up your job for the secretary? She’s nobody.” No, that was just it. She wasn’t nobody. Not to him. But admitting that would only make things harder for her. “Yeah, she is nobody. Like I said, I’m not giving up anything for her. What do you care, anyway? By Monday, I’ll have my resignation handed in to the board of directors and by Tuesday, they’ll be interviewing new

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applicants for my job. We both know who’s on the top of their short list for the position. So, what’ll it be? Vice president? Or state’s ward?” Becker thought about what he’d said, reached into his jacket and pulled out a manila envelope. “How do I know you won’t take this and forget about our deal?” “Because I’m not the double-crossing shit that you are. I actually keep my promises.” He swept up the envelope, crammed it into his pocket and left the restaurant as fast as he could. That was one conversation that left him feeling sick. It would be a long time before he’d be able to enjoy another Italian meal without his stomach lurching into his throat. A damn long time. When he returned home, he called Elena. She didn’t answer, so he left a short message, saying that things had gone well, and he hoped she had a good week at work. Even though the situation had more or less been handled, he spent the next few days pacing his house, feeling caged in and twitchy, restless. What was that bastard Becker trying to hide? The detective was still working on some things. Stacy called to check on him a few times. He didn’t answer, just let the voicemail pick up. She left a couple of messages, saying she was worried about him, hoped he was doing okay and letting him know that she’d heard through the rumor mill that he’d quit and Becker had been named VP. Would he please call her? He didn’t. Instead, he spent his nights tossing and turning, thinking about a certain pretty little office manager. And he spent his days sitting in front of his computer, staring at his résumé and trying to decide what to do about a job. It would be a piece of cake calling his old man and taking a job at Pierce Holdings. But Kyler knew he’d never be satisfied if he did that. For one thing, he hated investing. No, he needed to find another job on his own. Something he could feel proud of. If he had to, he’d start at the bottom, roll up his sleeves and sweat his way to the top, just

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like he had before. Yes, that was exactly what he’d do. In fact, maybe he’d go apply with his former employer’s biggest competitor, AVR Manufacturing. Wouldn’t it be convenient if they had an opening in their sales department? Hell, he might even like a job in quality control. He wasn’t above getting his hands dirty. Finally, he had a plan in place, a sense of purpose. He printed out a handful of copies of his résumé and hit the pavement. Only after he had found himself a new job did he let himself think about Elena again. It had been almost a month since he’d last seen her. Instead of easing up over time, his feelings for her had only intensified. He wanted to know how her brother was doing. How Becker was treating her at work. If she had anyone to shovel the snow off her car after the first big snowstorm of the season. And if she would have anyone to spend Thanksgiving with. Somehow, he had to make things right. If she’d let him. God only knew he didn’t deserve a second chance, but that was exactly what he wanted—the opportunity to start over. It took him another week to convince himself to ask her. Despite the fact that it was only twenty degrees outside, his hands were damp with sweat as he drove to her place, a cute little bungalow in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Her car sat in the driveway. He hurried up the un-shoveled front walk and rang the doorbell. A blistering north wind whipped through his hair. Finally, the door opened. Kyler dragged in a long, deep breath. He knew he wouldn’t stop thinking about this woman, no matter how long it was before he saw her again. This was it. His chance. He would kick his own ass if he fucked it up…again.

***** “W-well, hello, Kyler,” Elena stammered, so stunned to see him, she could have been blown over if he sneezed. What was he doing here?

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Standing on her front porch, he looked at her long and hard for a few minutes, and she felt her face flaming again, like it had the night he’d blackmailed her. “I’ve been thinking about what happened between us.” He tipped his head, his expression guarded. “I want to start over again. I’d like to get to know you better.” “I—I…” Oh, God! Was he asking her on a date? He was, wasn’t he? She leaned against the door for support. It had been over a month since she’d left his house. Every night, she’d lain in bed, wondering how he was, what he was doing, if he ever thought about her. And every morning—as insane as it was—she secretly hoped she’d see him again. They lived on opposite sides of town. An accidental meeting was about as likely as being struck by lightning or winning the lottery, but in some ways she’d always been a hopeless romantic. She’d looked for him everywhere—gas station, party store, delicatessen. Even this hopeless romantic hadn’t imagined he would come to her house and ask her out. “Oh hell.” He shook his head and backed away from the door. “This was a bad idea.” He started to turn around. Stop him! “N-no.” She lurched forward and grabbed the first piece of his anatomy that came into reach, his elbow. Awkwardly, she gave it a tug. “Sorry. I was just caught by surprise. I mean, it’s been a long time, and I didn’t hear from you. I thought…” “Let me take you out tomorrow. On a real date.” “Tomorrow? Sunday?” “Sure. I feel like such a shit for how I treated you. That’s not me.” She hesitated, not sure if she wanted to believe what was happening. This was what she’d hoped for. But could she really trust him? “Okay, sure. One date. But that’s all I’m agreeing to for now.” For just the briefest of moments, that thick veneer he’d been wearing since she’d opened the door cracked and a flurry of emotions played over his features. “Hang on to your hat, sweetheart. Tomorrow, you’re in for the night of your life. I’m taking you on 57

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the date of your dreams.” He left her with a twinkle in his eye and a promise that she wouldn’t be sorry for giving him another chance. “By the way, what size dress and shoes do you wear?” he asked, just before strolling back to his car. She couldn’t wait to see what he had planned.

***** Kyler put his car into park, cut off the engine and fisted his keys. He’d known that sooner or later he’d have to have a heart-to-heart with Stacy. He’d avoided it for too long. After all, he didn’t really have a solid reason for giving her the silent treatment. Sure, she’d given him some false information, back during that thing with Becker. But despite paying the detective good money, he had never discovered anything proving it was intentional. If anything, he figured she’d been used by Becker. Who knew what that bastard had been thinking? The bottom line was they’d been friends for too long to hold a misjudgment against her. She might have believed the wrong person’s lies, but she had been, after all, trying to protect him. He headed up her front walk to her porch steps, eyeballing the car in the driveway, which, coincidentally, looked a lot like the Lincoln his former employer had leased for him. Could be Becker’s. Or it could belong to someone else. It wasn’t as if all black Lincoln Town Cars ever built were leased by TK Technologies. He knocked. She answered the door wearing a robe, her Domme platforms, some heavy makeup and a blush. “Oh, Kyler. Hi.” She didn’t invite him in. In fact, she shuffled out and pulled the door shut behind her. “Hey, I’m sorry if I’ve come at a bad time. I owe you an apology for not returning your calls.” She glanced over her shoulder before giving him a flat smile. “It’s okay. I was just worried. You know how I can be.” 58

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He’d never seen Stacy act this nervous before. It wasn’t like he didn’t know she had a social life. Hell, they’d gone on double dates together. And occasionally played in the same dungeons. She was a Domme, he a Dom. Their social circles tended to overlap. “Sure, I know how you can be. I’ll get going. We’ll talk later.” He started down the steps. “How are you? Have you found another job?” she called after him. He turned again, catching her tugging on her robe to cover what looked like a strip of black leather. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was playing in her dungeon with someone. And for some reason, she didn’t want him to know who that someone was. The question was why? He’d never been a jealous friend. They’d never kept secrets from each other. There was never any reason to. He forced a smile he didn’t feel. “I sure did. Thanks. And thanks for looking out for me, you know, with that Becker thing.” Something flashed in her eyes, but he couldn’t read what that something was. “I’m relieved to hear you landed on your feet. And you’re welcome. I couldn’t sit by and watch Matt scheme against you and not say something. It just stinks that you ended up losing your job instead of him.” “I didn’t lose my job. I quit.” “That’s right. You quit.” She nodded, pushing the door open and backing inside. “I’ll call you later, okay? Maybe we can have lunch next week.” “Sure. Lunch.” He walked to his car, checking the Town Car’s license plate number as he passed. Yep, it was his former leased car, which should have been turned over to the new VP of Sales and Marketing upon his promotion. Matt Becker. Kyler got in his own car and drove around the blocks a few times. After about fifteen minutes, he turned back down her street.

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The Lincoln was gone. What the hell was Becker doing at Stacy’s house?

***** Oh my God. The dress. It was gorgeous. Black, long, elegant and slinky, it skimmed over Elena’s curves just right. Not too tight. Not too loose. The straps—if they could be called that—were chains of sparkling clear stones. Backless, the dress boasted several more chains of glittering jewels. They draped across her skin, tickling her as she moved. She felt beautiful wearing this dress. And there was more. Three boxes—two jewelry boxes and a shoebox—had also been delivered today. Inside the two jewelry boxes she found a gorgeous choker made of white gold and more clear stones and a pair of dangly earrings to match. And in the shoebox she found a pair of genuine Manolo Blahnik shoes. She’d never even seen a pair of Manolos in person, only on television. Was this a dream? Elena did some last-minute fine-tuning of her hair and makeup, brushed her teeth, swished some mouthwash in her mouth until her tongue was burning and then slipped her feet into the shoes. They were a little higher than she was used to. At least that was the excuse she told herself as she wobbled down the hall and answered the door. Kyler stood on her front porch, holding a bouquet of roses. And oh my God, did he look hot in that crisp black suit. He beamed the instant their gazes connected. This was like a scene out of a movie or something. So unbelievably romantic, over the top. “You look amazing.” He took her hand as he stepped through the front door. She was blushing like crazy. Her cheeks were about to melt. Or at least, her makeup was going to melt and slide off her face. Wouldn’t that be attractive? “You do too.” “Ready for a great adventure?” He handed her the flowers.

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They were the most beautiful, aromatic roses she’d ever seen. She inhaled their scent. “Adventure?” A little zip-zappy thrill charged through her body as she wobbled back to the kitchen for a vase. “Sure.” This was way too good to be true. When was she going to wake up? As she filled the cut crystal vase and arranged the flowers, Kyler wandered from the kitchen. She found him standing next to the door, holding yet another large gift box. “Another present? Oh God, Kyler. I don’t know if I can accept it.” Okay, so maybe it was overcompensation on his part—the dress, jewelry, shoes, flowers, and now yet another gift—but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t appreciating the effort he was making. No man had ever treated her this way. “This is vintage. I hope you like it.” He lifted the box’s lid, pulling out a full-length white fur coat. It was gorgeous. Soft. Luxurious. Real. “Oh my God. Kyler?” she said as he helped her into it. “I didn’t want you to be cold.” He led her outside to a waiting limo. The vehicle’s inside was dark and cozy. She sat down and Kyler sat next to her. He stretched an arm out, resting it behind her shoulders, and she found herself leaning toward him, wanting to be closer. During the ride, they talked about insignificant things, typical first date stuff. Their education, hobbies, friends. About a half-hour later, the car stopped in front of a gorgeous old building of some kind. Elena leaned forward to read the sign as the driver opened the door. Maplewood Country Club. Looked very elegant and exclusive. They were led through a gorgeous lobby to a cozy room that housed a few tables, a fireplace and nobody but them. The table in front of the fireplace was set for two. Kyler helped Elena out of her coat and into a chair and then sat next to her. “Pinch me, will you?” she asked, lifting a glass of water. “This is unbelievable.” Kyler’s eyes glittered as he looked around. “You like? I’ve been a member here since I was old enough to crawl. Never reserved a room like this before. This place has a

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very nice dining room for the members, but I wanted tonight to be special. Just you and me.” “Again, just pinch me.” “I might. Later.” His smile turned wicked. “Is that a promise?” With him like this, so charming and attentive and romantic, it was easy to forget about all the crap he’d done to her. Ninety-nine percent of her believed this was the real Kyler—the genuinely nice man with eyes that twinkled with laughter and a smile that made her heart skip beats. But there was that one percent that wouldn’t allow her to believe this was real, that he honest-to-God liked her, wanted to get closer. They enjoyed some easy conversation during the meal, and lots of glances across the table. By dessert, she was not only totally stuffed but also much more at ease. His expression turned just a little serious as he pushed the empty dessert plate away and stretched his arms. “Now that we’ve eaten, I want to talk to you about some serious issues.” Oh boy, was this the end of the fantasy? She tried to look cheerful, but her stomach took a dive. So did her mood. And yet, a small part of her was relieved. Hopefully, they’d finally talk about that day at his house. Finally, she’d have some answers. “Sure.” “First, about that day, why I snapped—” “Hey, we were both confused and stressed. You apologized already. And I see you’re trying to make up for it.” His expression darkened. “Nothing will make up for the way I treated you. There’s no excuse. But I want to at least tell you what happened.” “Okay.” Her insides felt like they were being stretched uber-tight. It was hard to breathe, and her head felt a little swimmy, but she concentrated on taking slow, deep breaths and listened.

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“You know Stacy Beautfort? From work?” “Sure.” She knew Stacy, although not very well. Stacy was secretary to the company’s CFO, while Elena was the office manager for the sales department. They worked in the same five-story building but on different floors. “She was the one who called me that day and told me about you and Becker. Some of what she said was true, and some wasn’t.” “You believed her?” “Sure. She is—correction, was—an old friend of mine, and I didn’t think she had any reason to lie to me.” He sighed, dragged his fingers through his hair. “I kept wanting to believe you. But she was calling, telling me something so different. It didn’t help that you weren’t willing to tell me the truth, although I completely understand why you couldn’t. Keeping your mouth closed only made you look guiltier.” “Sure, I can see that.” At least now she understood why his respect for her seemed to yo-yo up and down. And she was willing to admit if an old friend of hers had told her those kinds of things, she’d be reacting first, checking the facts second. “But you said ‘was’. Does that mean you’re not friends with Stacy anymore?” “I don’t know yet if she lied to me or if she was just passing on false information unintentionally. Until I do know, I’m keeping my distance. It’s just better that way.” “Then I’m sorry that you’ve maybe lost a friend over this. It’s all very sad, and I never felt it was worth it.” “So we’re clear on that now, right?” “Yes. I’d say you acted as any human being would. Emotions were running high. You were confused and angry, maybe trusting someone who was trying to manipulate you.” “You’re being so understanding about it all.”

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“I still have my job, and my insurance, thanks to you. Maybe it’s a little easier being understanding because of that.” She hesitated. “Will you tell me now what happened after I left that day? Between you and Matt?” “We had a little talk. I guarantee he’s not going to whisper a word about your situation.” “Okay. That’s all you’re going to tell me?” “Yeah.” “Fine. What about you? We’ve spent all this time together tonight and you haven’t said a word about a new job. Did you find one?” “I’m fine.” He looked fine. In fact, he looked better than fine, but that didn’t stop the sudden pang of regret from stabbing her in the gut and making her feel a little sick. He’d given up a great job for her. Even if he told her he’d found something ten times better, she’d still feel somewhat guilty. “I didn’t have to go back to working for my father’s company.” “You don’t like working for your father?” “It’s not bad work. It’s just that, since graduating from grad school, I told myself I wasn’t going to ask for his help anymore. And I haven’t, for years. I’m my own man. Make my own decisions and pay the prices for my own mistakes.” “I understand.” She studied his face for a moment. That adorable chin and emotionriddled eyes. The thick wave of hair that always tumbled over his brow. For just the briefest of moments, she could see the vulnerable young man Kyler had once been, the one who had set out to prove to his father that he had finally grown up and was ready to stand on his own two feet. “That means a lot to you.” “Yeah,” he said casually. She knew better than to buy the easygoing tone of his voice. The truth was in his eyes.

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There was this long moment of silence. Finally, she broke it. “I wish I could say I’m sorry for what Becker did, but I hate to admit this—don’t take it the wrong way—I’m kind of grateful. In a very small way.” His eyes widened with surprise. “What do you mean?” “If he hadn’t tried to blackmail me, would you ever have taken the chance with me?” When he opened his mouth to speak, she added, “Honestly?” His jaw snapped shut. He stared at her for one, two, three excruciatingly long seconds. Then he shook his head. “Probably not.” “Can I ask why not? Does that question make me sound as pathetic and desperate as I think it does?” “Sure you can, and no, it doesn’t. There were several reasons why, but mainly I wouldn’t because you worked for me.” “And I don’t work for you anymore.” “Exactly.” His smile wasn’t exactly beaming, but at least his expression brightened slightly. “Which brings me to the second thing I wanted to talk to you about—the dungeon.” “Oh that.” She giggled nervously, the memory of him catching her on her knees flashing through her mind. “I’m sorry for snooping. I was…um, looking for my keys so I could go home.” “It’s okay. I’m actually not bothered that you found out. It’s not something I would want to broadcast to the world, but I want you to know. If you hadn’t discovered it on your own, we’d be having this conversation anyway.” Was that significant? Did he sit every woman down on the first date and tell her he had bondage gear in his house? “Okay.” “Forgive me if I ask you some silly questions, but I need to get a feel for what you do and don’t know. Do you understand what that room is used for?”

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“Well…” She imagined herself bound in that swing, Kyler standing between her spread legs. Her face grew so hot, she wondered if steam might be coming off it. “I’m guessing you participate in some kind of bondage play.” She hoped he wasn’t into the scary, hardcore stuff. Needles, blood, severe pain. She couldn’t imagine him doing those kinds of things, not with what she knew of him. But she supposed anything was possible. They’d spent very little time together. “That’s correct. I’m a member of a very private and exclusive group. We come together once a week.” She nodded, glanced down to toy with the corner of her napkin. This was a very uncomfortable conversation. Not so much because she was shocked or horrified, but more because she was so unsure of what exactly Kyler was getting at. Did he want to take her to the dungeon? Do things to her in there? A part of her thrilled at that thought. The rest of her was extremely nervous. He captured the hand that was picking at her napkin. His palm rested on the top of her hand. His fingers twined with hers. “What are you thinking, Elena?” She looked at his face, in his eyes. “Believe me, I’m not judging you, Kyler. Not at all.” “But?” “But this thing with you has been a bizarre roller-coaster ride, from the moment you got in my car back at the restaurant. And the bondage, submitting…I’ll admit, I’ve been curious about Domination and submission for a long time. I’ve even considered going to a play party. But it’s very new to me, and it’s going to take a lot of trust for me to feel comfortable. I guess I’m not the kind to blindly trust someone, especially if I’ve been hurt by him before.” He nodded. His gaze delved deep into her eyes. “I know. I’m very sorry. I guess there’s no going back and starting over, is there? As much as I want to.” “I want that too. But it’s a little hard to forget.”

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“I understand.” This time it was Kyler who dropped his gaze first. He stared down at their hands, hers still beneath his, his tapered fingers splayed between hers. He rolled his wrist and fingered his watch with his other hand. “It’s getting late. You have to work tomorrow. Do you want me to take you home now?” “No. Not at all.” His gaze leapt to her face again, and she saw something there. Something she couldn’t quite read. “Are you certain?” She smiled. Nodded. “I-I want to see where this is going. I’ve always been attracted to you. Since the first time I saw you at work. There’s a connection, a strong one. I’m scared. You hurt me. I can’t tell you how much. But I can’t just walk away from you.” “The feelings were mutual, believe me.” He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lip. “I’m…scared too. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I waited a long time, watched you. I don’t want to fuck up again. I don’t ever want to hurt you.” And then he blinked, and that…whatever it was…she’d seen in his eyes was gone, and a strength and sense of purpose that commanded her attention shone in its place. “You are a very special woman.” His words echoed in her head. He’d called her special, and that’s exactly how she felt. Not because he’d bought her presents or rented a room at this country club. But because he’d let down his guard for those few precious seconds. Yes, a man could be powerful and dominant, and yet still be vulnerable at times. He’d just shown her it was possible. “I…um, wow. Thank you.” Her face was going to ignite. The air between them was so superheated, she could practically hear it crackle, like burning paper. She just hoped he’d have the patience for her. No, she hoped it was fair asking him to be patient. Needing to change the subject, she asked, “Has it been a long time since you’ve been involved in a relationship?” “A couple of years.” “Why so long?” 67

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“I wasn’t ready. I was in a bad place. For a long time. If I’d let myself get involved with any woman, I would’ve hurt her.” “So that’s why…” That statement answered so many questions for her. Such as why he seemed to be such a loner. Why the rumors about him had started. And why he’d seemed so distant and unapproachable until now. He released her face. His eyes, however, held her there as effectively as any physical restraint would. She felt herself wanting to surrender to this man, or more specifically to the feelings she had for him. She wanted to know everything about him, his darkest secrets. She ached to belong to him. To know that he wanted her, no others. Oh God, it had been such a long time since she’d let herself feel anything for a man. It was terrifying in one way, thrilling in another. “I need to ask,” Kyler said slowly. “Are you absolutely sure you feel the need to submit to a man? Sexually? Are you ready to explore this side of yourself?”

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Chapter Five Kyler’s question hadn’t shocked Elena. But that still didn’t keep her from feeling a skittery unease. Her tongue felt heavy. She couldn’t speak for at least a handful of heartbeats. “I-I’ve read a little about it, and I’ve done a lot of thinking. But honestly, I don’t know much at all, so I can’t be sure I truly understand what it’s all about. A lot of the stuff I’ve seen on the internet is either confusing or downright intimidating. Scary.” He nodded, pulling his chair next to hers, until they were wedged closely to each other. He leaned in, and she could literally feel the heat radiating from his body. She felt herself drawing nearer, pulled into the heat. “I think a lot of people feel that way when they first start exploring the lifestyle.” He studied her carefully for a moment then rested a hand on top of hers. His fingers twined between hers. “Despite all the confusion, it’s worth stepping out and taking some reasonable risks. I’ve been a Dom for a long time, and I usually can sense these things in people, especially women.” “What do you see in me?” she whispered, her breath wedged in her throat. He tilted his head and inched closer still, until their mouths were nearly touching. His breath warmed her lips, a gentle caress. “A natural submissive. A woman who craves complete surrender to a powerful, dominant man. A woman who wants to trust and love her man with everything she is.” He was right about that last bit for sure. She let her eyelids fall closed and relished the sensual tension winding through her body. He was so close, and he smelled so good, and this moment, oh God, this moment was so amazing. Would he kiss her already?

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She lifted her heavy eyelids and met his smoldering gaze. She could read so many things in those eyes of his. On the very surface she saw raw, almost savage desire. No man had ever looked at her like that before. It was positively thrilling. And below the surface, she saw something even more compelling. As their conversation meandered from one subject to another over the next two hours, she saw the very beginnings of true caring. There, in those sparkles, when he talked about her. When he asked her questions about herself, her fears, her dreams. This man was looking for a long-term relationship. God help her, so was she. He was looking for a woman who wished to join him in his lifestyle, a woman who would willingly surrender all control and power to him. To love and be loved. She wanted to be that woman. Finally, as her fears eased and her need to answer the urgent call thrumming through her body overtook her, she asked the question she hadn’t been ready to speak at the beginning of the evening, “Will you show me how, Kyler? How to submit?” “Yes, if that is truly what you want.” “It is. I think. I mean, I want to try.” He kissed her then. Hard and long. His tongue swept into her mouth to dominate hers. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a crushing embrace. She surrendered to him, welcoming him to take everything from her, to strip her bare of every defense, to topple the walls she’d erected around her heart, to claim her body. As their kiss continued, the tension in her body swelled, until she was hot and tight and ready. She sighed into their joined mouths, begged, “Please, Kyler.” He broke the kiss, stood, helped her into her coat then took her hand and led her from the country club. They got into the car and he sat, pulled her toward him. His hands slid up her thighs as she leaned forward, taking the hem of her dress with them. The car rolled smoothly down the driveway.

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Hands on her waist, he guided her onto his lap, facing him, legs straddling his hips. Her bent knees rested on the seat. The rigid bulge in his pants rubbed against her wet pussy. She rocked her hips back and forth, desperate to rub away the pounding ache between her legs. As he unbuttoned her coat, he kissed her neck and shoulders. Caressed a breast through the thin, satiny cloth of her dress. The other reached around her back, fingers splayed against the small of her back, just above her buttocks. The man was the worst kind of tease. He taunted her nipple, nipped her neck until goose bumps tingled and prickled her skin. Skimmed the outer shell of her ear until she shivered and begged for him to stop. She was going to die. Long before they reached his house. Finally, he eased her off him. She now sat on the seat, her legs spread. His hungry gaze dropped to her lace-covered pussy, to the center of her pulsing agony. He bent over her sodden panties. “Thank you. For giving me this little bit of trust. I promise I won’t take it for granted.” She believed him. She wanted to tell him as much, but she was too overwhelmed and desperate to speak. Instead, she simply nodded. He inhaled and the corners of his mouth pulled into a sexy half-smile. “You smell so damn good. I have to taste you.” Oh God, yes. His hands skimmed up her thighs, and he caught the sides of her panties, pulled them down. She drew her legs together and lifted her feet, until he had them completely off. He positioned her on the seat, next to him, facing him. He hooked one of her knees over his shoulder, and the other leg slowly lowered to the floor. The cool air eased the burning in her wet flesh, until he lowered his head to taste her. Oh God.

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He parted her folds with his fingers. His tongue swept up and down along her crest, stopping for a moment to torment her clit and then moving down to thrust into her vagina. Then, adding to the sweet agony, he pressed two fingers into her tight canal, filling her. When he suckled her sensitive clit, she soared to an instantaneous climax. All the tension that had built in her body from the moment he’d arrived at her house tonight snapped, and pulse after pulse of wet heat pounded through her body. She was still wobbly when they pulled up in front of Kyler’s house. The skirt of her dress fell to the ground when she stood up. The material caressed her bottom as she walked, a naughty, sexy sensation. She leaned against Kyler as they climbed the front stairs and entered his home. She curled her fingers around his hand as they walked up to the dungeon. He paused just inside the door. “In this room, I am your Dom and you are my submissive.” He turned to face her, gently slid a hand up her arm and around to the back of her neck. “My sole focus is you. Your pleasure. Your pain. Are you still scared?” “A little.” He nodded. “With our history, it’s hard to trust. I understand. But over time, it’ll be easier. I’ll make it easier, earn your trust.” He walked around her back, eased her coat off her shoulders. Tugged the zipper of her dress down. The garment skimmed down her body, landing in a puddle of black satin and glittering jewels at her feet. “I need you to kneel now, Elena.” He held her hand as she stepped out of the gown and then lowered to her knees. He guided her body into the right position, buttocks up, head down, spine arched. “Good. Now wait here. Eyes down, bottom up. It’ll feel best if you completely turn yourself over. Let go of your fears and reservations.” She lifted her head the second she heard Kyler leave the room. She checked out every piece of furniture she could see from her position. The swing in the corner. The bench she’d sat in when he’d discovered her snooping. 72

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So embarrassing. Ironic, maybe tonight she’d be on that bench again, this time with Kyler kneeling before her, his thick cock gliding in and out of her pussy. Her back was to the door but she knew when he’d returned. A whoosh of heat swept up her spine. Her back tightened as he approached. This was it, she was about to experience her first time—and maybe her last—in a dungeon with a real, honest-to-God Dom. When he walked around and stopped before her, she couldn’t help stealing a quick peek. Leather. Oh yum. She stared. He narrowed his eyes a smidge, but the sparkle never left them. “Eyes down, Elena.” “Sorry.” He stood before her, his booted feet planted wide, “There are as many varieties of Domination and submission as there are people who participate in them. Whether it’s a lifestyle, as full-time Master and slave, or something much more transient, is up to each person to decide. You need to determine what you’re looking for. I want to help you.” He stooped in front of her. “Have you ever been inside a dungeon?” “No. Never.” “Come with me.” He helped her to her feet, showed her every piece of equipment, explained each one. Then he asked, “Do you have any questions?” She sure did. One big question. “What if I don’t like what you’re doing?” “Then we stop.” “And then what? What if I discover that none of this is for me?” “We talk.” Could it be so simple? She tells him it isn’t for her, and he says that’s okay, that he doesn’t need it. She doubted it.

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Clearly, this bondage stuff had been a part of Kyler’s life for a long time, a significant part. He had invested in the furniture, was a member of some kind of group. Gosh, it wasn’t just a part of his life. It was a part of him. He’d already told her he wasn’t going to just walk away from it, not for any woman. Not for her. Besides, she couldn’t ask him to do that. Any more than she’d expect him to ask her to quit reading or stop loving art. She’d have to walk away. Call him a good friend, but accept the fact that they weren’t meant for each other, regardless of the chemistry they had. It had been such a short time. What this was between them was still very new, and she completely understood the risks of taking things too fast. Yet just the thought of saying goodbye to Kyler again made her insides ache. In a very bad way. Maybe it wouldn’t be necessary. She sensed a lot rode on this first time in his dungeon. Perhaps, even, a chance for love. Kyler had said he’d sensed she was a natural submissive. How he knew that, she had no clue. She could admit her fantasies had always been about powerful men, surrendering to their control. Being stolen away by a time-traveling Viking or hauled from a burning building by a burly firefighter. But how many fantasies were better left to the imagination? “We’ll start slow and easy. I’ll explain everything beforehand. And if you want me to stop, say rose petal.” “Rose petal. Got it.” He took her to the one wall that didn’t have a piece of furniture affixed to it. Instead, two long shelves stretched the entire length of the wall. Arranged neatly on the shelves was a wide array of wrapped sex toys. Some she could identify. Some she couldn’t. Beneath the bottom shelf hung a variety of whips, leather restraints, feathers and paddles.

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“I want to let you know that your safety is my primary concern. Only new, sterile toys are kept in my dungeon, and my whips, restraints and paddles are sanitized after every use. I am regularly tested for sexually transmitted disease, even though I have not had intercourse with anyone in over two years. During play parties, I act as a Dom or Master only. There is no sex during play. I want you to understand, I only have intercourse when I am in a committed relationship.” Wow, what did that mean? Did he want to have intercourse with her? Did he consider them “in a relationship”? Maybe he was ready to be vulnerable again. Trust her. She felt genuinely honored. “You understand now, don’t you?” He took her hands in hers. “Regardless of what I said, it’s never ‘just a fuck’. Not for me.” She thought she might cry, hearing those words. “Especially with you.” “Why me?” “I can’t say for sure. It’s not one thing, I guess. It’s lots of things. The chemistry between us is a part of it, for sure. But there’s more.” He hesitated for a moment. “Maybe it’s crazy to say this, to feel it. But the truth is, it hurt when things weren’t right between us.” She knew the feeling. They were both crazy, going this fast. Letting their emotions carry them away like this and indulging in what might be a dangerous game with their hearts. Once again, she felt like her back was against the wall, although not literally. Kyler was asking her to dive into the deep end, take a chance, let go of all her fears…with him. She combed her fingers through the leather strands of a whip, letting them slide through her fingers.

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“A whip’s bite can sting, but its caress is very gentle. This is a cat-o’-nine-tails.” He lifted the whip from its hook on the wall. “I know I have no right to ask this, but trust me.” She nodded. Kyler walked around to Elena’s back, slid a hand around her side and pressed his entire length against her backside. Little tingles and zingy mini-blazes swept up and down her body. “Kneel down, Elena.” Supported from behind, eyes closed, she slowly sank to her knees, settling into the position Kyler had placed her in earlier. She was so nervous and scared it felt as though her heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest and the air in the room had suddenly been depleted of all oxygen. She gulped in each breath, shaking hands resting on her thighs. She instinctively flinched when the leather strips cascaded over her shoulder. The sensation was sensual, erotic, soft, like fat droplets of water striking her skin. Her body reacted. Her shoulders relaxed. The tightness in her chest eased. But the heat between her legs spiked higher. It was sexy, this anticipation, not knowing what would happen next. More thrilling than she’d ever imagined. Then it was gone, the teasing caress. And the next instant the thongs struck her back again, this time higher and a tiny bit harder. It didn’t hurt, not really. But it did catch her by surprise. She gasped and her back arched away from the whip’s stinging nip. A shudder of heat quaked up her spine. “How’s that feel, Elena?” How did it feel? Awful? No, not at all. It felt good. The skin of her back was warm, the sensation adding to an already confusing and intoxicating mix of erotic scents and sounds and feelings. “I-I like it.” She could hardly believe she was saying that. “I want more. Not harder. But more.”

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“This way.” Once again, he helped her to her feet, led her to the wall with a big cross-like structure affixed to it. He positioned her so she was facing the wall, arms out to the sides, legs spread wide. He fastened leather cuffs around her wrists and ankles and then hooked chains to each cuff, basically binding her spread-eagled. “You’ll enjoy it even more if you’re restrained. Remember, rose petal.” She nodded and gulped several times. Her mouth was as dry as sandpaper. Her heart was racing so fast she was dizzy. And she was sure her knees had melted. What was she doing here? So terrifying. So thrilling. The whip’s thongs cascaded down her back again, tickling her skin, down to her buttocks. The muscles in the small of her back clenched. Her sex clenched. And then every muscle in her body clenched. She was one tight ball of jangling nerves. When the teasing touch of the whip vanished, she grimaced and leaned forward, ready for the strike. Once again, it wasn’t as painful as she expected. A million little stinging nips, followed by a million more. She didn’t count the number of times he struck her, just closed her eyes and let the anticipation and wicked pleasure swirl through her, carry her away to a quiet place. She nearly wept when he stopped. “Please, more. Oh God, that feels wonderful.” She’d never felt so alive. Energy was coursing through her body in superheated surges. She felt as if she were ten times stronger than normal, and ten times happier. “I don’t want it to end.” “I knew you were a natural.” He smoothed his hands down her stinging skin. “Although I had no idea you would take to it so quickly.” He unfastened her ankles first, then her wrists. “Come here, my pretty little submissive.” She clung to him as he led her to the bench she’d been caught trying on for size the first time she’d entered this room. He helped her get positioned, fastened her wrists and ankles in the restraints and then knelt before her, just as she’d imagined. 77

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“I want you so bad, Elena. My balls are killing me. But I won’t take you yet. Not until you’re ready.” She was about to spontaneously combust. How could he think she wasn’t ready? “Please.” He shook his head and went back to the wall of shelves. When he returned, he held several wrapped toys in his hands and a tube of lubricant. “I want to go slow with you, but, dammit, it’s hard. Especially when I see that pretty little pussy all wet and ready for me. And your tight anus. Have you ever been fucked there?” “No.” Her pussy and ass clenched at the thought. She’d seen Kyler’s penis. It wasn’t small. She had to guess it would hurt to have him try to put it in her bottom. “Then I won’t try today.” A huge relief. “But I will teach you how to prepare yourself for me. How to train your muscles to relax so you can take me. Would you like that?” “I-I don’t know.” He looked her directly in the eye as he nodded. “I’m going too fast for you. I’ll slow down.” He unwrapped one of the toys, a slender, hard vibrator with a bullet-shaped tip, and smoothed some lubricant on the very top. “Today is all about your pleasure. How are you feeling now, Elena?” “Really, really good. Hot,” she added. “Excellent.” He twisted the base of the vibrator and her pussy once again clenched at the sound of its telltale hum. This was crazy, how every little sensation affected her body. Never had sex been so exciting for her. Never had every sound, scent and touch been so intense. She flamed at the smoldering hunger in Kyler’s eyes, the tension she saw in his rigid muscles as he moved. The scent of leather and man and her own arousal hung heavy in the air. Everything, from the room’s semi-sinister appearance to the tingling heat on her back,

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was like an aphrodisiac. Her natural responsiveness to all the sensations battering her system was amplified. Her body was so hot and tight she trembled. Release loomed close but just beyond reach. She wanted to close her eyes and throw herself toward the finish line. Or put her hands between her legs and caress away the throbbing ache in her tissues. But Kyler wasn’t about to allow either. She could see that. “Open your eyes, Elena.” She hadn’t even realized they were shut. His expression was dark, feral, so incredibly sexy. “You like being like this, powerless and under my complete control, don’t you?” He was so damn good at the controlling. “Y-yes.” Would she have felt safe to allow any of her previous lovers to play with her like this? To actually strike her with something that could no doubt do a lot more harm if he let it? No. Kyler clearly knew how to control the whip, and her body. And yet she sensed he wouldn’t use the power she so easily surrendered to him against her. Something wonderful was happening between them here and now. Trust built. Respect earned. Love sparked. He touched her labia, gently, with his fingers. Traced the seam of her nether lips from front to back. It was a deliciously teasing touch. Erotic and tempting, promising so many delightful possibilities. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts forward. Oh God, wouldn’t he touch her harder? Flick that fingertip over her burning clit. Thrust those fingers into her empty pussy. No. It seemed he meant it when he said he’d go slowly. Even though she was burning for completion, he wasn’t going to let her get there, not until he decided she should.

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What a fucking blow-your-mind hot way to drive a girl crazy! “Please, Kyler. I want you inside me.” “Not yet, sweet thing.” He slipped just the tip of his finger into her tight sheath and groaned. “When I get inside you, I can’t promise anything.” She really liked the sound of that. She tested the restraints holding her arms out to the sides, her ankles tight to the ends of the bench. They were fastened just tight enough to keep her from moving more than an inch or two. Definitely too tight to get a hand down between her legs and stroke her way to bliss. “You’re so fucking beautiful. Your body’s absolutely perfect. And your sweet cunt…I want to taste you again.” He leaned down and parted her labia with his fingers. His tongue darted out to shyly taste her slick folds. He groaned and she moaned. Her thighs tightened. “You taste so sweet. Oh fuck, Elena. I want to eat you for hours.” God, no. Please. Not hours. His tongue danced over her clit and she just about wept in gratitude. Little bolts of pleasure zipped through her body with every wet stroke. It was magic. But it ended much too quickly, long before she could come. She sagged against the wooden structure behind her, boneless and desperate and burning up. Tears slipped from beneath her closed eyelids. She wasn’t sad. In fact, quite the opposite. She was so happy her emotions overwhelmed her, spilling from her body in hot salty tears. He lifted his head. “Elena. Open your eyes, sweet thing. Look at how hungry I am for you.” It took Herculean effort for Elena to lift her heavy eyelids. Her gaze instantly snapped to Kyler’s intense and desperate one. The desire she’d seen in his eyes had become impossibly hotter. There was a wicked inferno simmering in those dark depths, the kind of heat that pulsed through her own body.

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He lifted his hand, brandishing the vibrator. “I’m going to put this inside you, but I don’t want you to come yet. You understand?” She didn’t want to understand. Nor did she want to obey him. Her entire body, from her scalp to the soles of her feet, was one big pulsating blob of desperation. But she nodded anyway, unable to do anything but obey. She just knew she’d be disappointed if she failed him. The vibrator inched into her slick passage, the electric buzz spreading out like ripples on the surface of a pond. With the buzz, came more tight, wet heat. More desperation. She was going to come. The vibrator slipped out of her pussy, and her head slumped forward as every muscle in her body sagged. She whimpered, caught up in the twitches that followed. Only a second more and she would have had release. “You’re ready.” Oh, thank God. She opened her eyes to watch him shed his black shirt and unzip his snug pants to push them down his narrow hips. His erect cock jutted proudly from a trimmed nest of dark curls. His testicles snugged tight to the base of his rod. A droplet of white precome glistened from the ruddy tip. He rolled on a rubber and slowly eased into her. They groaned in unison as he completely seated himself in her slick heat. “You’re so tight, sweet thing. So fucking tight.” He rested his hands on her knees, using them as leverage as he withdrew from her and then pushed back inside. This time, she didn’t let herself hide in the darkness, the swirls of colors behind her closed eyelids. She watched his beautiful body work. His shoulders bunch and bulge. The corded muscles of his arms tighten and relax. The planes of his stomach harden when his hips pushed forward.

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With every intimate caress of his cock, she soared ever closer to climax. And the erotic sound of skin striking skin as he fucked her harder only made her journey that much swifter. And then she was there and she couldn’t breathe. Her stomach cramped as she gulped in one shallow mouthful of air after another. There was a brilliant explosion, deep inside. Followed by bliss. Like hot honey. Pulsing through her chest, up her neck. Oh. My. God. She knew the instant Kyler also found release. He stopped thrusting for a single heartbeat, groaned her name and then resumed fucking her, his thrusts sharper and harder than ever. Her body welcomed every sweet invasion, until he finally sagged against her, his slick chest sliding over hers. He kissed her eyelids. Her cheeks. Her mouth. Her neck. “I’m sorry, Elena. So sorry. I wanted to go slower with you.” She was so not complaining. “I wanted to taste every inch of your body. To play with these beautiful tits. Your soft stomach. Nuzzle your neck and nip your earlobes.” She smiled. Such sweet promises. “There’s always next time,” she quipped. “You betcha. And the time after that.” He withdrew from her, removed the condom and disposed of it. And then he gently helped her out of the restraints. She was shaking all over when he carried her to his bedroom down the hall and laid her on the world’s softest bed. Warm, safe and adored. It simply didn’t get any better than this. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

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Chapter Six “Elena, wake up.” It took Elena about ten seconds to remember where she was, and another thirty to gather up the strength to open her eyes. Oh, she was so sleepy, and achy all over. It was a good achy, the kind that came from using muscles that hadn’t been tested in a long time. Kyler lay next to her, his torso uncovered, the crisp white sheets a sharp contrast to his tanned skin and dark features. “I don’t want to wake up.” She snapped her eyes shut, wishing they had more time just to be together, another day. Week. Month. Monday already. She hated Mondays. “Come on, sleepyhead. I want you to have a good breakfast before heading to work.” “Do I have time to eat? What time is it?” She lifted her heavy head and squinted at the glowing red numbers on the clock. “Yes. Breakfast’s the most important meal of the day. You’ll just have to make time.” “Oh my God! Is it really seven thirty?” Now fully awake, she rolled onto her side. “I’ll never make it to work on time.” Nearly in a panic, she flung her legs over the side of the bed. “I have to get home, shower, change my clothes—” “Whoa, hold up there. You’ve got plenty of time. The office is five minutes from here. You don’t have to clock in until nine.”

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“But I can’t go to work in yesterday’s clothes, and I need a shower.” She scrambled around the room, trying to find her discarded garments. She found them draped over a chair back. Her shoes. Where were her shoes? “Not a problem.” Naked, he caught her by the arms, completely halting her progress. “I had a few things delivered for today. I hope you like them.” “What kind of things?” “Shower first. Then I’ll show you.” He physically turned her toward the bathroom door and gave her backside a love tap, sending her from the room with a stinging bottom and big smile. She hesitated just inside the bathroom door, turning to say over her shoulder, “You know, I feel bad that you’re the one doing all the giving and I’m the one doing all the receiving.” He caught her hand in his, turned it over and pressed a sweet kiss to her palm. “That’s just it. You’ve been doing the giving for so long you don’t know how to receive.” They shared a sweet moment of watery glances and understanding halfsmiles. “Now get going. I’m going to feel like shit if you’re late for work. Then again, making you late could be fun…” “You’re devious.” She shooed him away, before swinging the door closed. She cranked on the water and, curious, tiptoed to the door and inched it open. She caught him leaving the room, a glorious sight, nude male perfection. It was still hard to believe they were doing this—acting like they were a thing, lovers. Just a few days ago, she’d thought he was out of her life forever. What had she done to deserve such a wonderful man? When she finally left the steamy heat of the bathroom some twenty minutes later, she found the bed had been made. And there was a pyramid of white boxes in its center. A huge red bow perched atop the stack. She unwrapped all the boxes. Beautiful designer clothes, shoes, jewelry. Inside lay a card in a white envelope. To Elena, 84

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Thank you for being who you are. Kyler Oh God. Could a man be any sweeter? Any more generous? Somehow, she wanted to give back to Kyler, show him how much she appreciated the sacrifice he’d made to let her keep her job. But how? What could a girl who had nothing give to a man with everything? Christmas was coming. Maybe by then she’d know what that gift should be.

***** Kyler forced himself to wait until the end of the day before driving over to TK Technologies. He had his reasons for waiting, the main one being if he did find out the driver of what was once his leased Lincoln was Matt Becker, he wanted to follow him, see if he’d head back to Stacy’s house. He couldn’t imagine why Becker would pay Stacy a personal visit. She was a Domme. He was a manipulating ass, not a submissive. A blackmailing, manipulating ass. Maybe he was ready for another promotion, already. Stacy was the CFO’s secretary, most definitely in a position to help him if he was after a bigger fish. Shit, that had to be it. Stacy’s calls, her nervous act when he’d gone to her house, she was looking for his help but was afraid to ask. She was in over her head. Becker was at it again. But this time, he’d catch the asshole in the act. He had his chance a few nights later. Because Kyler had been in Stacy’s home plenty of times, he knew her patio door didn’t lock properly. He’d told her to get it fixed more than once, but she’d shrugged him off, joking that he was more worried about her safety than she was. Besides, it locked fine, at least at first glance. Anyone who thought to break in would think so. But if they jiggled the door a certain way, the lock disengaged. How likely was it that a guy would stand around playing with a door, hoping it would magically come unlocked? 85

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This was why he’d known she wouldn’t fix it. Sure enough, a little jiggle and the lock flipped up. He was in, and no one was the wiser. He could hear voices, Stacy’s and Becker’s, coming from down in her personal bondage dungeon, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. Being careful to avoid making any noise, he slowly descended the stairs to her finished basement, stopping before he reached the bottom. “You’ve been such a good slave,” Stacy said. “Come here. Serve me. On your knees.” What the hell? It seemed Kyler had been wrong about Becker. He was a submissive. But he supposed that didn’t mean he’d also been wrong about Becker’s reason for being in Stacy’s house. He could still be trying to manipulate her. There was only one way to find out. He raced down the rest of the stairs and stepped around the corner, finding Stacy perched on the bondage chair she called her throne, eyes closed, Becker’s head between her spread legs. Her eyelids snapped up a split second after Kyler cleared his throat. “Kyler,” Stacy said, eyes widening for a single heartbeat before narrowing again. Becker’s head swiveled as he twisted at the waist, glancing over his shoulder. “Kyler?” “Don’t stop, slave.” She fisted Becker’s hair and yanked, turning him back around. “This is quite a surprise. I didn’t even hear you knock.” “That’s because I didn’t. I… You never fixed the lock.” She smoothed her hands down her torso, sheathed in a red PVC corset, her splayed fingers coming to a rest just above her bellybutton. “I was hoping it might come in handy someday. And it has.” “Then you want people breaking in your house?” “Only one.”

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Kyler shook his head. “What the hell is going on here, Stacy? I came here today, thinking Becker was maybe trying to blackmail you like he did Elena.” “How gallant of you,” she said, a sultry smile blossoming over her face. “But you’ve got it all wrong, in case you didn’t realize that by now.” “Why don’t you tell me how it really is then?” Her smile faded. “I can’t believe you didn’t put it all together. You’ve really disappointed me. In fact, I’ve totally lost interest in our game now.” She curled the fingers of her right hand into Becker’s hair again and pulled, glaring down at him. “What the hell are you doing? You don’t eat me like a toddler lapping at a lollipop, you worthless animal. Either do it right or leave.” Was this the same woman he’d known all these years? On the outside, she looked the same. But the Stacy he knew was down to earth, easy to talk to. Outside bondage play, she didn’t play games. “What game?” Kyler asked, completely bewildered. “This one. The game we’ve been playing since the day you dumped me.” What the hell? “I never dumped you. We were never…together.” Something flashed across her face, but the expression didn’t remain there for long. In less than a blink, her expression was frosty again. “Is that really what you believe? Do I need to remind you of what you said to me?” Kyler was so confused, he didn’t know what to say next. Obviously, he hadn’t just misread Becker, he’d also misread Stacy. In a huge way. Looked like he’d somehow mislead her too. He couldn’t remember having ever said anything to make her think they were lovers. They’d never flirted. Never kissed or fucked. They’d never played in a dungeon together. They’d never shared any really deep intimacies. All they’d ever done was talk. “It looks like you do need me to remind you.” Cruelly, she shoved Becker’s head from her then kicked him in the center of his chest with her spike-heeled boot. “You’re done. Go, learn how to eat pussy right. And don’t come back until you do.”

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Becker fell backward, catching himself with his hands before scrambling back into his submissive position on his knees. “Yes, Mistress.” Dressed in her PVC corset, and matching red fishnet stockings and knee-high boots, Stacy sauntered over to Kyler, sliding a black-painted fingernail between her lips. “’I care about you, Stacy,‘” she said, throwing his own words in his face. “’Like I haven’t cared about a woman in a long time.‘” Shit, he had said that, a long time ago. And he’d meant it at the time. But not in the way Stacy had thought. “I meant I care about you as a friend. You’re a Domme. I’m a Dom. Neither of us are switches.” “You could be. If you wanted me bad enough. You’d become a switch if you loved me.” “Why would you ask anyone to become something they’re not if you love him? That’s not what love is all about, making people change.” “Hey, I watched you over the past how many years? How many women have you tried to ‘fix’?” She was right. Now that he thought about it, he had tried to change more than one of his former lovers. He’d fooled himself into thinking it was okay, by telling himself that he was helping them become better. “That was before. I know better now. Love is about…” He hesitated, realizing the real reason why every one of his former relationships had failed. It wasn’t because he’d been trying to change the women. Love is about trusting, becoming vulnerable, giving of yourself, your heart and soul. Whether the one doing the loving is a Dom or sub or neither. He’d always thought he’d known how to love. But he hadn’t. He’d only known how to play the role of lover. He’d always been the kind of guy to throw expensive gifts at his women. But that wasn’t truly giving. Those things had only been poor substitutes for the one thing his lovers had all been asking for—his heart. Just maybe, if he’d taken the chance, let himself become vulnerable, rather than focusing on how he could fix the

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woman or how she was failing him, he would have found true happiness with one of them. Maybe he could have spared himself and them a lot of heartache. “Oh, are you going to get all philosophical on me now, Kyler? That’s so not you.” She sighed as she circled him, her eyes assessing. “You’ve always had the unfailing ability to fool yourself into thinking you see the truth, both in yourself and in everyone around you. Has that changed?” “If you’d said that a month or so ago, I’d have had no idea what you were talking about.” He swore his blood had turned to ice, he felt so cold right now. She stopped directly in front of him then, her expression turning haughty. “Then you’ve had a revelation. How nice. Aren’t you going to thank me?” “No. Thank you for what?” “Blackmailing Becker into getting you fired.” “I quit.” “Yeah, right. You quit.” Smiling, she patted his chest. “You had no choice. Although I’ll admit, I was surprised to see you give up. I figured you’d put up at least a bit of a fight. After all, you were so proud of where you’d gotten yourself.” “Let me make sure I’ve got this clear—you were the one who cooked up that scheme with Elena and the money?” Stacy shrugged again. “Maybe you expect me to be sorry, but I’m not. You didn’t deserve to be VP. Becker does. He may be on his knees, but he has a spine…and a heart.” “So that’s really it? You did this because your feelings were hurt?” “No, I did it because you needed me to. You see, I turned it around. I fixed you. Now, thanks to me, your eyes are open and you’re not fooling yourself anymore. Someday, you’ll see that and thank me.” He’d heard enough. He spun around, hands clenched into tight fists, emotions pounding through his body. He was confused and hurt and sad and furious, all at the

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same time. He’d been betrayed by a woman he’d once considered a good friend. In one respect, he’d love to bring her down for what she’d done, and Becker for the part he’d played in it too. He’d lost a job he’d worked hard to earn. But he was done with them, with games, with the shit. He left, not speaking another word. He realized, after sitting down that night and taking a good, long look at his relationship with Stacy, that the only way to deal with someone like her was to walk away. Fate had a way of taking care of the rest. At least, in the long run, she’d taught him some things about himself. Maybe she was right. Maybe someday he’d thank her.

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Chapter Seven “You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready. Like I’ve said before, you don’t have to do anything to prove something to me.” Kyler stood inside his front door, his fingers curled around the handle. He was wearing his typical Dom gear—leather pants, and leather strap harness that showed off his amazing upper body. “If I officially present you to the group tonight, instead of just having you there as my guest, you’re going to be nude, touched by strangers, expected to play the part of perfect submissive. Not to mention, you may see me play with other submissives, both men and women.” Elena couldn’t remember ever being so nervous. She didn’t even try to hide it. Kyler knew her well enough to recognize the signs, trembling hands, stuttering voice. Over the past year, they’d spent a lot of time together, both in the dungeon and out. Talking. Touching. Sharing. Exploring. In that time, they’d grown, both as a couple and individually. Elena had learned a great deal about herself, thanks to Kyler. Like how hard it was for her to trust. And she’d helped him come to terms with a few issues too. Like how he avoided being vulnerable, stepping out of his Dom shoes and kneeling at the feet of the woman he loved. It had been both the most challenging and wonderful thirteen months of Elena’s life. “I know. I understand. But like you said, you don’t have intercourse with them. Right? And no one will expect intercourse from me either.” “That’s right. It’s very different with you, my lover, than it would be with a submissive seeking only a Dom. And no Dom or Domme is going to even touch you without my permission, let alone demand intercourse.” “I think I’m ready.” “Okay.” He went back to the dungeon and gathered some toys in a bag. “Just in case you decide you want to play,” he explained. “No pressure. If you just want to

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watch that’s okay too. And I want you to tell me if you’re ever uncomfortable or want to leave.” “Okay.” “You can’t wear that outfit if you’re going to be presented. Go change.” He gave her jean-clad bottom a playful swat, sending her upstairs giggling. She wiggled into a gstring and fishnet body stocking and clomped downstairs in a pair of outrageously high shoes. On top went the white mink coat Kyler had given her the night of their first official date. “Ready?” “Yep.” She held Kyler’s hand as they walked out to the waiting limo. “You said tonight’s sort of a Christmas celebration?” The official holiday was still over a week away, their second Christmas Day together. She didn’t care if Kyler gave her nothing. She was just grateful to have him in her life. He’d already given her so many things— beautiful clothes, expensive jewelry, himself. She couldn’t imagine anything that would be better or more meaningful anyway. He’d totally spoiled her. “You might call it that. There won’t be any Christmas carols or hot chocolate but there’s usually a nice buffet and soft drinks. And some of the members exchange gifts.” “Are you giving anyone a present this year?” “Only one.” He didn’t say more and she didn’t want to pry, although she was seriously curious to find out who had earned a Christmas present from the man she’d fallen in love with. Was it a fellow Dom or maybe one special sub? “The Christmas play party is always at Master Blade’s private dungeon. Last year, you weren’t quite ready for it.” Master Blade—who she guessed had not been born with that name—was obviously filthy rich, like old-money, rolling-in-it rich. His estate sat on one of Michigan’s most well-known roads, Lakeshore Drive, the rear backing Lake St. Clair. A long winding driveway took them through the walled, wooded lot to the house. A uniformed servant opened the limo’s door, and Kyler stepped from the car. Elena followed him up the

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brick home’s front steps to the polished wood door. Elena had never seen a house as big and beautiful as this one. Inside, the building was as grand and breathtaking as its exterior. The foyer’s ceiling soared at least three stories up, and the biggest crystal chandelier she’d ever seen hung overhead. “This way.” Kyler led her to a small room to the right. “One last chance. If you want to just watch, you can keep your clothes on. But if you want me to officially present you to the group this time, you’ll need to take everything off.” She glanced at a pair of mostly nude women wearing leather collars, g-strings and harnesses, standing nearby. Her heart was drumming against her breastbone, keeping a rapid tempo. And her hands were shaking, mouth so dry she swore her tongue was going to crack. But she still wanted to do this, wanted to become a part of this world. “I’m sure.” The two women in g-strings helped her out of her coat, body stocking and g-string. She felt terribly self-conscious as she left the room. It was amazing how much security a mostly transparent fishnet garment could give her. Kyler eyed her intensely, his gaze traveling up and down her body. “This is it. Ready?” How could she say no when she knew this meant so much to him? She pulled in a deep breath, let it out and clasped her shaking hands together behind her back. “Yes, Master. I’m ready.” She held her breath as she took little baby steps behind him, down the hallway to the pair of double doors at the end. She could hear the sounds of the party inside, voices, music. When the doors opened, it was like a wave of sensation rolled over her. The scents of perfume and pine and sex. The distant sounds of slapping, and closer, voices, music. And the many, many bodies, tall and thin, short and stout, all shapes and sizes and in various forms of undress.

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“This way.” Kyler led her past dozens of curious onlookers to the room’s center, beneath a glittering chandelier where light played out across the room in twinkling mini-starbursts. “Present, Elena.” He then moved away from her, walking toward one end of the room, leaving her to present as they’d practiced at home every day. She’d imagined it would be like this, both scary and thrilling. But she’d had no idea how thrilling it would be. She lifted her chin, pushed her shoulders back and, staring straight ahead while avoiding making eye contact with any Doms or Dommes within eyesight, walked across the empty floor. When she was within about four feet from Kyler, she slowly, as gracefully as she could manage, eased to her knees. She hadn’t fallen over, twisted an ankle or stumbled like an idiot. She was actually able to inhale freely for the first time since arriving at this place. Now the easy part. On all fours, she crawled toward him, stopping about eighteen inches from his feet. Finally, she took the presentation position he favored when they played at home. Back arched, eyes down, bottom up off her heels, knees spread and hands resting on her thighs. She stared blindly at the gleaming wood floor and listened to the room fall silent. Everything seemed to stop, the voices, music. She didn’t have to look up to know that everyone was looking at her. A crazy rush of heat flared through her body on the heels of an equally intense chill. The floor was like ice beneath her knees, the air a fragrant caress around her body, the silence a dark cloud above her head. More nervous than she had been a few minute earlier, she turned inward, focused on the sensation of air filling her lungs, the pounding of her heart in her chest. At Kyler’s demand, Elena recited the presentation she’d performed for him every day they spent together, “Master Kyler, this submissive presents the Master’s body for his examination and inspection. This submissive joyously presents these breasts…” She cupped her breasts. “This vagina…” She lowered her hands to her pussy and parted her

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labia. “This anus…” She reached around and parted her ass cheeks. “And mouth for examination and inspection.” She opened her mouth wide and waited. What agony. What sweet agony. Around her she heard voices, commenting on her body, complimenting Kyler on his beautiful new submissive. At his command, she closed her mouth and, avoiding making eye contact with any of her admirers, looked around the room. How many times had she secretly fantasized about a scene like this, where she was being assessed, objectified? Touched? At Kyler’s assent, strangers’ hands fell on her shoulders, back, stomach, head. Male and females alike commented on her breasts, her ass, her hair. Between her legs an aching pounding had begun, and the heat there increased with each throb of the delicate tissues. Even if her mind didn’t know it, her body did. This was what she’d been searching for. She’d found her place, among Masters and Mistresses, Doms and Dommes. Slaves and submissives. People she might never have found. Kyler had gently and patiently led her home. A beautiful woman, her lush body spilling from a black latex catsuit, bent down and boldly weighed Elena’s breasts, her full red lips pursed. “She’s just lovely, Kyler. May I?” “Absolutely, Mistress Jasmine.” Elena gasped, both insanely aroused by the woman’s touch and equally shocked. But she didn’t flinch or move away. Even when she watched one of the woman’s hands move down between her legs. Her inner thighs tightened and Elena squeezed her eyes closed as the woman’s fingers slipped into her slick heat, stretching her. She could swear she was either going to ignite or pass out. She just wasn’t sure which.

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Reflexively, her vagina tightened around the woman’s fingers, intensifying Elena’s pleasure. What was it about becoming an object that thrilled her so much? She was there, on her knees, her pussy full of some woman’s fingers. Her entire body open and exposed to so many people. She couldn’t say, but she knew this was what she needed. That instead of making her feel empty and invisible it made her feel powerful and beautiful. She was sad when the woman withdrew her fingers, gave Kyler yet another compliment on his new submissive and left, and the sounds of the party slowly resumed. Kyler helped her to her feet. “Now we go to the dungeon.” Elena’s knees threatened to buckle, she was so aroused and giddy. As she walked, she felt people watching her, admiring her. It was like nothing she’d ever experienced in her life. Past men and women, Masters and slaves, Doms and submissives, down the wallpapered wall lined with expensive-looking artwork, to a single door, painted black. Kyler opened the door, and they stepped into a huge, fascinating bondage dungeon, torn from her wildest imaginings. Over the past year, Kyler had taught her the proper terms for the equipment—St. Andrew’s Cross, sex swing, kneeler, bench, cage. This dungeon had several of each. The room was partitioned into eight areas, each one containing at least a couple of pieces of furniture. At the moment, there was a scene going on in each one. She passed one where a Domme was playing with a submissive man. He was on his knees at the moment, being flogged. And in another scene, a Dom seemed to be instructing onlookers on the art of rope bondage. Kyler continued toward the back of the room, stopping in front of a scene showcasing a man nearly as big as the bouncer outside performing electro play on a bound beautiful blonde woman. That was one line Elena was definitely afraid to cross, but that didn’t keep her from watching in silent fascination as the man deftly stimulated the woman with the silver wand. The heat in her pussy inched up even higher, and she ached to have Kyler caress 96

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that pounding throb away. Here, in the middle of the crowd. Or there, on that sex swing. Anywhere. “What do you feel?” Kyler whispered into her ear. He pressed his entire length against her back. His rigid rod was pillowed against her ass. “I’m…so hot,” she admitted, eyes riveted on the handsome Dom who was now removing the restraints from the blonde. “I didn’t know how I’d feel about all this. I mean, I’ve watched before. But it’s different, actually being a part of it.” Kyler pulled her tighter against him. “I didn’t know either, when I came here the first time to play. I don’t think anyone does. But the minute they walk in, they either know it’s for them or it’s not. I’ve seen it go both ways.” “It’s both scary and exciting at the same time. The scary makes the exciting that much better.” “I’ve heard other submissives say the same thing. For a Dom, it’s a very different thing. You’re looking for the thrill you find in relinquishing control to a Dom or Master. You want to feel powerless. We, on the other hand, feel a great sense of responsibility for our submissives. For their safety and pleasure.” He reached around with one hand and pinched her nipple between his forefinger and thumb. She sucked in a sharp gasp and arched her back, resting her head against Kyler’s chest. It was strange when she thought about it, shocking, that she was standing in a room full of people with nothing on, letting Kyler tug on her nipple. But strange or not, she wouldn’t have wanted to miss this, didn’t want it to end. “I want you,” she murmured, rocking her hips forward and back. He reached between her legs, parted her labia. “Oh, sweet thing. You’re so wet. But I won’t fuck you here. Fucking is just for us.” She whimpered as he slid his fingers inside, hooking them so that his knuckles rubbed against the uber-sensitive front wall of her canal.

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“But that doesn’t mean I won’t let you come.” The hand on her chest moved down, his arm now circled around her torso, just under her breasts. “Watch, baby,” he murmured in her ear. “Watch the scene.” The big Dom had a new woman now, was tying her bent over a kneeler, her ass high in the air, legs spread wide, her upper body supported by the top cushion. The woman was begging him to fuck her with a dildo. Within seconds, a breathless, inflamed Elena was echoing the woman’s pleas. Kyler scooped up the bag of toys and gently forced her into an empty spot against the wall. He kneed her legs apart, pinned her wrists to the wall and kissed her. His tongue split the seam of her mouth, forced its way in and dominated her own. His rigid thigh rubbed against her throbbing pussy, stirring the heat in her body to obscene levels. She’d never been so desperate to be fucked.

His sweet Elena was hot. She was ready. And Kyler was in agony. But he refused to take her now. What he could do, however, was give her a little relief. Later, they would take their time, make love. Supporting her body with his knee and one arm, he bent to rummage through the bag on the floor. His fingers brushed over the gift box he’d hidden in it before closing around her favorite dildo. He scooped it up. With his free hand, he fingered her slick folds. So fucking hot and wet. A charge of desperate hunger swept through him, nearly knocking him to his knees. And then she whimpered. Enough of this. He turned her around, so she was facing the wall. Her spine arched, such a pretty sight. That beautiful, round ass was a delicious temptation.

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“Master. Please,” she whispered, her arms flattened against the wall, her face turned to the side. “Okay, baby.” He swept her hair over one shoulder and kissed her eyelid, cheek, neck. There wasn’t a more beautiful woman in the world. There wasn’t a more perfect woman for him. And tonight she would know how much he cared about her. He forced her feet wide apart and then, giving in to the temptation, he thrust two fingers into her slick heat. His head fell back. His eyelids dropped over his eyes, shutting him into a world of swirling passion. The other people in the room seemed to fade away, and his entire being centered on the sound of Elena’s gasps of pleasure and little moans of wanting as he replaced his fingers with the thick dildo. “Oh God.” He left the dong in place and dug into the bag again, this time coming up with a butt plug and lube. He spread a large amount of lubricant on the plug’s tapered end and then, warning Elena first, slid it inside her anus. Her knees gave out but he caught her, using his entire body to hold her erect. “I can’t…Master,” she murmured. He kissed the swell of her shoulder again, his gaze focused on the long sweeping eyelashes resting on her high cheekbones. “It won’t be long, baby. Just let yourself come. Trust me. I’ll hold you.” Wishing his cock was driving in and out of her sweet canal, he fucked her slowly with the dildo. Her juices coated the surface, dripped down the length to moisten his fingers. He could feel her body tightening, the heat of impending climax spreading up her back. She sighed and gasped. Trembled and whimpered. But after several agonizing minutes she didn’t come. He knew what she needed but one hand was busy with the toy and the other was helping support her.

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“Touch yourself, baby. Rub your clit.” “Ohhhh…” He’d never forget that sound or the glorious scent that always filled the air as she came. He fucked her harder with the dildo, thrusting it quickly to intensify her orgasm. Her moans of pleasure grew louder, louder, until they filled the room. He read her body, sensing when it was time to remove both the dong and the butt plug. When he turned to drop the used toys in his bag, he wasn’t surprised to find they’d caught the attention of a number of club members. He turned around, his body completely blocking Elena’s from their view and whispered in her ear, “It seems you’ve become an attraction.” He fully expected her to cover her face, blush. Even though she’d been to a few play parties with the club, this was her first time playing. And although she seemed to be taking it all in stride, it was another thing to share such a private moment with a group of virtual strangers. He had personally never come in the club. Not once. “R-really?” She had a nervous smile on her face as she twisted around to face him. She slid her arms around his waist and pressed her body against him. “That was so hot.” Sweet Jesus, he had found a woman who was not only a natural submissive but also an exhibitionist. The wanting pounding through his body amplified even more. He kissed her. Not sweetly, but with all the desperation he felt. And then, staring into her heavy-lidded eyes, he reached down and pulled the gift box from the bag. “This is for you.” “Me? I was the person you were giving a present to tonight?” “I won’t ask who you thought it was going to be.” He led her to a nearby chair.

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Sitting, she took the box from him and untied the bow with trembling hands. At least three times, she lifted her eyes, giving him a teary smile. She was emotional already and she had no idea yet what was in the box. When she lifted the lid, he heard her gasp. “K-Kyler?” She jumped to her feet and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheeks, his eyes, his mouth, his chin. Then she stumbled back a step and lifted the delicate collar—really, more of a choker than a typical collar—he’d had his jeweler custom-make for her. Almost thirty carats of small diamonds caught the light, flashing like brilliant stars, as she lifted the collar from the box and held it to her throat. “It’s…oh my God! I’m speechless.” “With this collar, I claim you as my submissive.” He fastened the collar around Elena’s neck and then reached in his pants pocket, pulling out a second box, this one much smaller. “And with this…” His heart had never pounded so heavily in his chest. Afraid it was too soon, that he was pushing Elena too hard, he hesitated for several seconds before flipping the top, revealing a perfect three-carat Asscher-cut diamond solitaire. “I claim you as my future bride. Will you marry me?” Elena’s jaw flopped open then snapped shut. Silent, she stared at the ring. She didn’t reach for it, which set off alarms in his head. Damn, she was going to refuse the ring. “Oh, Kyler,” she finally said at least an eternity later. She pressed her fingers to her lips and stared, first at the ring and then at his face. He filled the silence, “I know this is kind of quick. It’s only been a little over a year, and because we’d talked about waiting, you probably didn’t see it coming. But I have never felt for another woman the way I feel about you. Elena, your secrets don’t scare me. I love you. I want you. But more importantly, I need you. Forever. I lie prostrate at your feet.” He slowly eased to his knees then dropped his head, resting his forehead on her feet. “Oh God, Kyler.” 101

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He lifted his head, watching as the fingers of one hand traced the diamonds in the collar. The others remained on that lush mouth of hers. “I—I…” He’d known he was taking a chance by doing this here, in front of all the club members. But many of these people were like family to him. Master Blade and Mistress Jasmine in particular. He’d wanted to share this special moment with them. He glanced over his shoulder, knowing they were there, watching. Both of them gave him a reassuring smile. He plucked the ring out of the velvet box with his left hand, and with his right, he gently lifted her hand. “Please, please tell me you’ll be my wife. No pressure, but if you tell me no, there’s no telling what I might do.” “No pressure, eh?” Their gazes met, and there was a tense moment when he was almost certain she wouldn’t accept his proposal. But then something sparked in her eyes and her smile broadened. He inhaled for the first time in who knew how long. “Yes.” The room erupted into loud cheering. His eyes blurred by tears of joy, he slid the ring on her finger, climbed to his feet and kissed her. He’d found the woman who understood him, who accepted him, who adored and respected him. And the woman who made his entire world right. Blade and Jasmine both rushed to him, giving him warm congratulatory hugs. Then they each hugged Elena as well, welcoming her both to the club and to the family. “Now let’s get out of here.” He snatched up his bag from the floor and led his fiancée through the clapping, congratulating throng. He didn’t wait for her to redress when they reached the coatroom, just wrapped her fur coat around her and led her outside to the waiting car. The ride was excruciatingly long, even though it lasted no

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more than fifteen minutes at most. He spent the entire time thoroughly kissing her, murmuring promises against her full mouth. He would spend the rest of his life showing her how grateful he was to have her as his wife. And he would start tonight.

***** Elena just knew she was dreaming now. This couldn’t be real. Kyler had not just asked her to be his wife. Her. The office manager. The girl that no one had noticed before, who just a little over a year ago had been struggling to find a way to keep her health insurance. Who years ago had been forced to take another person’s identity to keep her brother from being torn from her. A wonderful, caring, generous and attentive man loved her. After a year of searching, she’d finally found the one gift she could give him. It was such a simple thing. And yet, she knew it was the one thing Kyler couldn’t buy, no matter how much money he had. Her love. Her trust. Her heart. Her vow, to love him forever. This time, as they went to his bedroom, they didn’t go as Dom and submissive. They entered the room as future groom and bride. Two people who ached to become one. They touched each other tenderly, taking the time to kiss and touch and caress. There was no power play, but only gentle strokes and murmured promises. Sex didn’t always have to be about control and surrender. Hard and hot and intense. Sometimes it could be a quiet, intimate thing. A sharing of emotions so deep they couldn’t be exchanged any other way. The fur coat lay on the floor, just inside the bedroom door. And a trail of Kyler’s clothes led from it to the bed. Kyler eased Elena onto the mattress, cradling and supporting her as she slowly sank back. Her gaze never left his face, those dark blue eyes that now shone with a new light. With love and the kind of trust and commitment that only came once in a lifetime. 103

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She silently thanked Matt Becker. He had no clue what he’d done by trying to blackmail her. He’d not only brought her and Kyler together, but he’d made them both make some changes in their lives. Ironically, a couple of months after he was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing, the company’s books were seized by the government. It seemed a handful of people were fudging the numbers, cheating shareholders out of earnings and padding their personal bank accounts. A few weeks later, both Becker and Stacy, Kyler’s former friend, were collecting severance pay. Shortly after that, they were both arrested. More recently, she’d read in the paper that during their criminal trials, they’d claimed they were both being blackmailed by the company’s CFO. It seemed fate had delivered exactly what they’d both deserved. Kyler flattened his hands on either side of her face. “What are you thinking about?” She couldn’t help smiling. “Becker.” “While you’re in bed with me?” he teased, nipping her lower lip. “Who would’ve thought such a terrible thing would lead to such a wonderful one?” “And who would’ve thought you’d be making another name change,” he quipped as he crawled over top of her. “I want to fix that. The whole name thing. I want to take my real first name…with your last name, of course.” “Done. But first, I need to finish what we’ve started.” He wedged his hips between her spread thighs and thrust into her. She moaned, arched her back and lifted her knees higher. Deeper. Harder. She wanted him. Now. And later. Sweet, gentle and hard, wild. She wanted to explore the exciting world of Domination and submission that he’d introduced her to.

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But most importantly, she wanted to simply be one with him. In mind, body and soul. To face their future together, whatever it might bring. The End

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About the Author Nothing exciting happens in Tawny Taylor’s life, unless you count giving the cat a flea dip—a cat can make some fascinating sounds when immersed chin-deep in insecticide—or chasing after a houseful of upchucking kids during flu season. She doesn’t travel the world or employ a staff of personal servants. She’s not even built like a runway model. She’s just your run-of-the-mill, pleasantly plump Detroit suburban mom and wife. That’s why she writes, for the sheer joy of it. She doesn’t need to escape, mind you. Despite being run-of-the-mill, her life is wonderful. She just likes to add some...zip. Her heroines might resemble herself, or her next door neighbor (sorry Sue) but they are sure to be memorable (she hopes!). And her heroes—inspired by movie stars, her favorite television actors or her husband—are fully capable of delivering one hot happily-ever-after after another. Combined, the characters and plots she weaves bring countless hours of enjoyment to Tawny...and she hopes to readers too! In the end, that’s all the matters to Tawny, bringing a little bit of zip to someone else’s life.

Tawny welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

Tell Us What You Think We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].

Also by Tawny Taylor Asteroid 6969: Siren’s Dance Body & Soul 1: Pesky Paranormals Body & Soul 2: Phantasmic Fantasies Burning Hunger Carnal Hunger Double Take Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales From the Temple IV anthology Immortal Secrets 1: Dragons and Dungeons Immortal Secrets 2: Light My Fire Immortal Secrets 3: Spells and Seduction Lessons in Lust Major Mark of the Beast Masters of Illusion Passion In A Pear Tree Private Games Sexual Healing Stolen Goddess Tempting Fate Touch of the Beast Wet and Wilde

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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